Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School, Shaftesbury

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders are quick to identify any barriers that pupils may face."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of what the school is doing well and what it needs to improve."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The personal development programme is ambitious, well sequenced and implemented effectively."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils have not been well prepared for secondary school."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders have strengthened their oversight of pupils' attendance markedly."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "There is a broad, balanced and generally well-sequenced curriculum."

Early years - Needs attention. "Leaders' work to improve the early years is ongoing."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that pupils' attainment in reading, writing and mathematics continues to rise so that pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, are well prepared for their next stage of education"; "Leaders should ensure that all staff have expert subject knowledge in the subjects and phases they teach so that the curriculum in early years, key stages 1 and 2 is implemented consistently well and pupils deepen their understanding of more complex concepts as soon as they are ready"; "Leaders and governors need to ensure that there is stringent oversight of all aspects of the early years curriculum so that adult and child interactions extend children's language development; learning time is fully maximised; and children are well prepared for Year 1"; "Leaders should ensure that staff use assessment information astutely, including in the early years, to ensure that they design activities that build firmly on the essential knowledge that pupils need to learn next".

In 2025, 54% of Year 6 pupils at Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 52% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 71% in Dorset and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 65% in reading and 50% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 40 families put Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 58 named it as one of their preferences, for 40 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School are The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury (1 mile, Good, 90% reading, 86% maths); Motcombe CofE Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 86% reading, 75% maths); Ludwell Primary School (2.3 miles, Good, 47% reading, 59% maths); and Semley Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (2.4 miles, Good, 73% reading, 82% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School.

Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School is one of 18 schools run by Sherborne Area Schools' Trust, an academy trust.

7.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Springfield Close (sw-bound), 180 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 60 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Dorset (25), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School issued 23 suspensions, 6.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.