Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School, Sherborne

Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "School leaders are ambitious that every child, including those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), should feel a strong sense of belonging and be able to thrive."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's provision for pupils' personal development and wellbeing is a strength of the school and prepares them well for life in modern Britain."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Historically, the published outcomes of Year 6 pupils have not been high enough."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Historically, rates of attendance have not been high enough and too many pupils have been persistently absent."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "New school leaders have undertaken a comprehensive review of the curriculum and have an ambitious vision for the quality of teaching."

Early years - Expected standard. "School leaders prioritise the early years and as a result many children are well prepared for the demands of Year 1."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The new school leadership team has set high expectations of what pupils can and should achieve."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to improve pupils' achievement so all pupils consistently reach the standards they are capable of by the end of Year 6"; "Leaders should make sure that in the early years, children benefit from activities and resources that help them to deepen their learning".

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils at Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 54% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 71% in Dorset and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 73% in reading and 63% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 43 families put Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 72 named it as one of their preferences, for 46 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School are Sherborne Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 69% reading, 55% maths); Thornford CofE Primary School (2.1 miles, Outstanding, 67% reading, 73% maths); St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford Abbas (2.8 miles, Good, 63% reading, 69% maths); and Trent Young's CofE Primary School (2.9 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths).

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

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

8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Sherborne Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is South Avenue (sw-bound), 160 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 46 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Dorset (25), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School issued 9 suspensions, 2.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.