St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Sherborne

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades St Andrew's Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 1 expected standard and 6 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that a detailed programme is in place to support pupils' personal development."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, frequent changes in leadership have resulted in instability in the school."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "The school's expectations for pupils' behaviour in lessons and around the school are not implemented consistently."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "New leaders have rightly identified that some pupils do not get the support they need to secure the early skills of reading, writing and mathematics."

Early years - Needs attention. "As elsewhere in the school, the expectations of children's behaviour in lessons are unclear."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders have recently strengthened the way that staff identify pupils' learning and development needs."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Over time, changes in leadership in the school and the trust have had an impact on the school's ability to identify and address areas of weaker performance."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should reduce barriers to learning for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, making sure that learning activities closely match what these pupils know and can do"; "Leaders should raise achievement by ensuring that all staff have the knowledge and support they need to quickly identify and address gaps in pupils' foundational knowledge"; "Leaders should clarify the school's expectations of pupils' behaviour in lessons, ensuring that rules and routines are clearly implemented by staff and understood and followed by pupils"; "Leaders and governors should ensure that actions designed to improve the school's performance are focused on identified priorities and are closely monitored".

In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at St Andrew's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 47% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 71% in Dorset and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 56% in reading and 44% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 15 families put St Andrew's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 26 named it as one of their preferences, for 16 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 St Andrew's Church of England Primary School are Thornford CofE Primary School (1.6 miles, Outstanding, 67% reading, 73% maths); St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford Abbas (2 miles, Good, 63% reading, 69% maths); Barwick and Stoford Community Primary School (2.5 miles, Requires improvement, 64% reading, 73% maths); and East Coker Community Primary School (3.5 miles, Good, 67% reading, 88% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Andrew's Church of England Primary School.

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

24 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Andrew's Church of England Primary School (as of April 2026): 88% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).

1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Yetminster Rail Station, about 570 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Coles Lane (opposite), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Dorset (25).

In 2024/25, St Andrew's Church of England Primary School issued 21 suspensions, 19.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.