Marshwood CofE Primary Academy, Bridport
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Bridport, part of The First Federation Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 10 schools in Bridport with published results, and 8,057th of 14,452 across England. It was 63% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Dorset (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy in detail
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Marshwood Church of England Primary Academy. We are committed to motivating and nurturing all members of our school family to be happy, self-confident and supportive of one another. We have a fantastic dedicated staff, small mixed-age classes and have been described as 'one big happy family'."
The school runs a breakfast club.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 63% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 71% in Dorset and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (92% in reading, 54% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 9 families put Marshwood CofE Primary Academy as their first choice and 15 named it as one of their preferences, for 9 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Marshwood CofE Primary Academy are Hawkchurch Church of England School (2.2 miles, Good, 100% reading, 67% maths); Thorncombe, St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy (2.3 miles); Broadwindsor Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (3.9 miles, Requires improvement, 80% reading, 67% maths); and Charmouth Primary School (4.1 miles, 93% reading, 80% maths).
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.
Hawkchurch Church of England SchoolThorncombe, St Mary's Church of England Primary AcademyBroadwindsor Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolCharmouth Primary School
The trust
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy is one of 29 schools run by The First Federation Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 57% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 13 pupils (30.2%) received SEN support and 1 (2.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Marshwood CofE Primary Academy.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (w-bound), 20 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Dorset (25).
Suspensions and exclusions
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Requires Improvement at its May 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Quality of education (Requires Improvement), Leadership & management (Requires Improvement).
At a Glance
23.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 92% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 54% to 63% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 46% to 63% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
21.5
Avg class size
25.0
KS2
2
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Marshwood CofE Primary Academy
Before and after school care
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Dorset
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Marshwood CofE Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Marshwood CofE Primary Academy is in Dorset; for families living there:
Apply to Dorset for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Dorset is 3 (the median across 184 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy
Will you get a place at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Marshwood CofE Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Marshwood CofE Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Marshwood CofE Primary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Dorset, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy for 2015 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Dorset got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
63%
Available places
44 pupils
70 places
26 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bridport
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bridport
Across Dorset council
Places available
3,692
Applications
2,795
Got 1st preference
93.9%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All primary applications across Dorset council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(4)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
13
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
32.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
43
Total Pupils
19
Boys
24
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
10.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,928
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,728
Per pupil
£443k
Total funding
£3k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.1%
Overall absence
9.5%
Persistent absence
42
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Marshwood CofE Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 88% reached the expected standard in reading and 63% did so in maths.
What is Marshwood CofE Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy was rated Requires Improvement at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2013 it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Marshwood CofE Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Marshwood CofE Primary Academy is oversubscribed, Dorset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy?
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 63% of its 70 places.
How big are the classes at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy?
Classes at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy average 21.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Marshwood CofE Primary Academy?
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy has around 43 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy?
5.1% of sessions were missed at Marshwood CofE Primary Academy in 2024/25. 9.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Marshwood CofE Primary Academy?
Apply through Dorset's coordinated admissions process, naming Marshwood CofE Primary Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Marshwood CofE Primary Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Marshwood CofE Primary Academy?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Dorset is 3 (the median across 184 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Marshwood CofE Primary Academy?
Marshwood CofE Primary Academy is at Marshwood, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 5QA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)