The Prince of Wales School, Dorchester
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The Prince of Wales School creates a warm, caring environment where every child feels valued and safe. Strong behaviour expectations, combined with excellent teaching in reading and early years, ensure pupils get off to a brilliant start. The school goes above and beyond with memorable experiences like overnight stays in roundhouses, musical instrument lessons, and international links that help children become thoughtful, responsible citizens.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding behaviour and personal development, with pupils showing exceptional respect and responsibility
- Excellent early years provision where children settle quickly and develop strong collaborative learning skills
- Sharp focus on reading with effective phonics teaching and good support for pupils who need extra help
- Exceptional range of enrichment activities and trips that broaden pupils' horizons and develop the whole child
- Strong support for pupils with special educational needs, including those in the specially resourced provision
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects, the school does not check pupils' learning with the same skill as in core areas, which can lead to gaps in knowledge
- Assessment systems need to be strengthened in minority subjects to help staff identify when pupils haven't learned key knowledge before moving on
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with pupils knowing who to talk to about their worries and feeling safe and supported.
Extracurricular Activities
Gardening, art, woodwork, basketball, Shakespearean plays at local theatre, trips to Houses of Parliament in London, musical instrument lessons, overnight roundhouse stays, school council, eco council, pupil leadership groups
The Prince of Wales School is a happy, inclusive first school where kindness and strong relationships are central to pupil well-being. The school provides a nurturing environment with high expectations, ambitious teaching, and rich experiences that help most pupils achieve well.
At a Glance
10.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
PD - Physical Disability
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
72 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
31.2
Avg class size
31.3
Infant (KS1)
31.0
KS2
5
Total classes
4 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
156 pupils
150 capacity
6 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Dorchester
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Dorchester
Admissions Demand - Dorset
Places available
3,776
Applications
2,808
Got 1st preference
94.1%
Got preferred school
99.1%
Primary admissions across Dorset (2025/26)
Inspection History(6)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.36209%
Overall absence
11.71875%
Persistent absence
128
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
The Prince of Wales School
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