School Chooser

Primary schools in Dorset

There are 130 primary schools in Dorset, teaching 26,253 pupils. Of the 125 with a score, 26 do better than similar schools elsewhere in England and 57 do worse.

Best in EnglandSecondary schools in DorsetAll schools in DorsetPlaces within
Pupils from low-income families18%average across these schools
Doing better than similar schools26 of 125scored schools in the top two bands
New-style Ofsted report cards19inspected since November 2025
Good or outstanding (old grades)7110 requires improvement or inadequate
Full or nearly full34 of 130schools with 98% or more of places taken
Average class size24.5one-teacher classes, January census
Free breakfast clubs13schools on the government programme
Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored

Getting a place in Dorset

From Dorset council's allocation figures for 2026 entry: 28 primary schools, 28 of which filled on distance. Every school's page has a postcode check.

Hardest to get into

The last place went to a child living this far away. The shorter the distance, the harder it is to get in.

  1. St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester 630 m
  2. Rushcombe First School 830 m
  3. Hayeswood First School 0.8 miles
  4. St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary School 0.9 miles
  5. The Prince of Wales School 0.9 miles
  6. Trinity Church of England First School 1.0 miles
  7. Colehill First School 1.0 miles
  8. Bincombe Valley Primary School 1.1 miles
  9. Radipole Primary School 1.1 miles
  10. Wimborne First School and Nursery 1.1 miles
  11. Oakhurst Community First School 1.2 miles
  12. Parley First School 1.4 miles

Most first choices per place

Rushcombe First School
1.4 per place
The Prince of Wales School
1.3 per place
St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary School
1.3 per place
Wimborne First School and Nursery
1.3 per place
St George's Church of England School, Bourton
1.2 per place
Henbury View First School
1.2 per place
Trinity Church of England First School
1.2 per place
St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester
1.2 per place

Source: Dorset council (allocation statistics). Councils we hold this for.

Primary schools (130)

Ranked by score, highest first. The likely range shows how sure we can be. If two schools' ranges overlap, don't read it as one beating the other. Click a column heading to sort, or hover a row to find it on the map.

#SchoolPupilsLow incomeOfstedScoreLikely range
1St Ives Primary & Nursery SchoolAcademy · ages 2-11 · Ringwood2455%Outstanding 20239996 to 100
2Rushcombe First SchoolCouncil · ages 4-9 · Wimborne3137%Outstanding 20229587 to 98
3Cheselbourne Village SchoolCouncil · ages 3-9 · Dorchester4927%Good 20239176 to 97
4Trent Young's CofE Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Sherborne1436%Not inspected9071 to 98
5Witchampton Church of England First SchoolAcademy · ages 5-9 · Wimborne454%Good 20238972 to 96
6Spetisbury CofE Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Blandford Forum18713%Good 20238569 to 94
7Lockyer's Middle SchoolAcademy · ages 9-13 · Wimborne43612%Good 20228472 to 92
8Henbury View First SchoolAcademy · ages 5-9 · Wimborne1489%Good 20238056 to 92
9Wimborne First School and NurseryAcademy · ages 2-9 · Wimborne40013%Good 20247956 to 91
10Cranborne Church of England First SchoolAcademy · ages 2-9 · Wimborne7317%Good 20237952 to 92
11Thorner's Church of England School, Litton CheneyChurch of England · ages 2-11 · Dorchester11513%No overall grade 20247841 to 93
12St George's Church of England Primary School, Langton MatraversAcademy · ages 2-11 · Swanage8517%Good 20237732 to 95
13Cerne Abbas CofE VC First SchoolChurch of England · ages 3-9 · Dorchester776%Good 20237750 to 91
14Trinity Church of England First SchoolAcademy · ages 4-9 · Verwood12813%No overall grade 20257650 to 90
15St Michael's Church of England Middle School, ColehillAcademy · ages 9-13 · Wimborne56316%Good 20247659 to 86
16St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Weymouth21319%No overall grade 20257553 to 88
17Emmanuel Church of England Middle SchoolAcademy · ages 9-13 · Verwood43417%Good 20227558 to 85
18Allenbourn Middle SchoolAcademy · ages 9-13 · Wimborne49914%No overall grade 20257354 to 84
19Sixpenny Handley First School and NurseryAcademy · ages 2-9 · Salisbury738%Good 20237141 to 88
20Durweston Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 3-11 · Blandford Forum1449%Report card 20267144 to 87
21Stoborough Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Wareham1958%Good 20237030 to 91
22Colehill First SchoolAcademy · ages 5-9 · Wimborne14810%Good 20236941 to 87
23Manor Park Church of England First SchoolAcademy · ages 2-9 · Dorchester39620%Report card 20266944 to 85
24St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 2-11 · Gillingham24212%Good 20236944 to 85
25Shillingstone Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Blandford Forum10326%Good 20236637 to 86
26Wimborne St Giles Church of England First School and NurseryAcademy · ages 2-9 · Wimborne7010%Good 20236535 to 86
27Puddletown Church of England First SchoolAcademy · ages 4-9 · Dorchester1349%No overall grade 20256436 to 85
28Symondsbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolChurch of England · ages 4-11 · Bridport10714%No overall grade 20256330 to 86
29Lytchett Matravers Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 2-11 · Poole4849%Good 20236243 to 78
30Hayeswood First SchoolAcademy · ages 5-9 · Wimborne1487%Good 20236133 to 83
31Parrett and Axe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolChurch of England · ages 4-11 · Beaminster13221%Good 20226028 to 83
32St Andrew's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Shaftesbury10118%No overall grade 20245922 to 87
33Burton Bradstock Church of England Voluntary Controlled SchoolAcademy · ages 3-11 · Bridport998%Not inspected5913 to 92
34Thornford CofE Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Sherborne1048%No overall grade 20245927 to 84
35St James' Church of England First School and Nursery, AlderholtAcademy · ages 2-9 · Fordingbridge1256%Good 20235929 to 82
36Hazelbury Bryan Primary SchoolCouncil · ages 2-11 · Sturminster Newton11420%Good 20235828 to 82
37St Mary's Church of England Middle School, PuddletownAcademy · ages 9-13 · Dorchester44121%Good 20195836 to 75
38Ferndown Middle SchoolAcademy · ages 9-13 · Ferndown60021%Good 20235635 to 74
39Hillside Community First SchoolAcademy · ages 4-9 · Verwood22116%Good 20235628 to 80
40The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, ShaftesburyChurch of England · ages 4-11 · Shaftesbury20117%Good 20225630 to 78
41Buckland Newton Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 2-11 · Dorchester11015%Report card 20265525 to 81
42Pamphill Church of England First SchoolAcademy · ages 5-9 · Wimborne679%Good 20235526 to 80
43Bovington AcademyAcademy · ages 4-11 · Wareham18019%Good 20235530 to 77
44St Osmund's Church of England Middle SchoolAcademy · ages 9-13 · Dorchester71417%Good 20225534 to 73
45The Prince of Wales SchoolCouncil · ages 2-9 · Dorchester15610%No overall grade 20255527 to 79
46Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Blandford Forum20827%Not inspected5425 to 79
47St Mary's CofE First School & NurseryAcademy · ages 2-9 · Ferndown14817%No overall grade 20255426 to 79
48St Mary's Catholic Primary School, SwanageAcademy · ages 4-11 · Swanage17518%Good 20225429 to 76
49Stalbridge Church of England Primary SchoolFoundation · ages 4-11 · Stalbridge18822%Good 20235328 to 76
50St James Church of England First SchoolAcademy · ages 2-9 · Wimborne1345%No overall grade 20255225 to 78
51Pimperne Church of England VC Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Blandford Forum18314%Not inspected5217 to 85
52Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolChurch of England · ages 5-11 · Dorchester706%No overall grade 20245121 to 79
53West Moors Middle SchoolCouncil · ages 9-13 · Ferndown24037%Report card 20264928 to 69
54Holy Trinity Church of England VC Primary School & Community NurseryChurch of England · ages 2-11 · Weymouth47133%Good 20244931 to 67
55Verwood Church of England First SchoolAcademy · ages 2-9 · Verwood28912%Good 20234923 to 75
56Motcombe CofE Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Shaftesbury14616%Good 20234723 to 71
57St Mary's Catholic First School, DorchesterAcademy · ages 2-9 · Dorchester1776%Good 20234219 to 70
58Conifers Primary SchoolCouncil · ages 4-11 · Weymouth32434%Good 20224124 to 60
59St Mary's Catholic Primary School, MarnhullAcademy · ages 2-11 · Sturminster Newton8213%Good 20234119 to 69
60Bridport Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Bridport26722%Good 20234023 to 61
61Salway Ash Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolChurch of England · ages 5-11 · Bridport10911%Good 20234016 to 72
62Upton Infant SchoolAcademy · ages 4-7 · Poole25019%Good 20234018 to 68
63Broadmayne First School and NurseryCouncil · ages 2-9 · Dorchester1397%Good 20233917 to 68
64Parley First SchoolAcademy · ages 4-9 · Ferndown31312%Good 20233918 to 67
65Dunbury Church of England AcademyAcademy · ages 2-11 · Winterborne Whitechurch13112%Good 20233816 to 69
66Corfe Castle Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 2-11 · Wareham8725%Good 20233813 to 74
67St George's Church of England School, BourtonAcademy · ages 2-11 · Gillingham1429%No overall grade 20253811 to 78
68William Barnes Primary SchoolCouncil · ages 4-11 · Sturminster Newton16225%Good 20233517 to 61
69Swanage St Mark's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Swanage8949%Good 20243415 to 61
70Beaminster St Mary's AcademyAcademy · ages 4-11 · Beaminster14032%Good 20233313 to 66
71Radipole Primary SchoolCouncil · ages 4-11 · Weymouth43713%Good 20233319 to 52
72Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 0-11 · Blandford Forum41127%Good 20233319 to 53
73Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary SchoolChurch of England · ages 4-11 · Dorchester13720%Good 20243214 to 60
74Wyke Regis Church of England Junior SchoolChurch of England · ages 7-11 · Weymouth34032%Good 20223119 to 48
75Bere Regis Primary and PreschoolAcademy · ages 2-11 · Wareham11920%No overall grade 20252811 to 59
76Wool Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 2-11 · Wareham11614%Good 2023279 to 63
77Cranborne Middle SchoolCouncil · ages 9-13 · Wimborne26519%Not inspected2615 to 43
78Ferndown First SchoolAcademy · ages 4-9 · Ferndown34819%Good 20232611 to 53
79Oakhurst Community First SchoolAcademy · ages 5-9 · Ferndown17321%Report card 20262611 to 53
80Milldown CofE AcademyAcademy · ages 4-11 · Blandford Forum20023%Good 20222513 to 45
81Bridport, St Mary's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Bridport19430%Good 20242411 to 47
82St Andrew's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 3-11 · Weymouth22522%Good 20202411 to 49
83Southill Primary SchoolCouncil · ages 4-11 · Weymouth21214%Good 20222311 to 45
84St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, WeymouthAcademy · ages 4-11 · Weymouth20120%Good 20242311 to 46
85Three Legged Cross First and Nursery SchoolAcademy · ages 2-9 · Wimborne8419%Good 2023219 to 48
86Upton Junior SchoolAcademy · ages 7-11 · Poole35127%Good 20232113 to 34
87Chickerell Primary AcademyAcademy · ages 2-11 · Weymouth42022%Not inspected2111 to 38
88St John's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 2-11 · Weymouth22426%Good 20242110 to 41
89Wareham St Mary Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Wareham16534%Good 2022209 to 42
90Dorchester Middle SchoolAcademy · ages 9-13 · Dorchester52722%Report card 20262010 to 35
91Loders CofE Primary AcademyAcademy · ages 2-11 · Bridport7214%Not inspected194 to 69
92Sandford St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolChurch of England · ages 4-11 · Wareham34215%Good 20221911 to 34
93Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First SchoolChurch of England · ages 3-9 · Dorchester6013%Report card 2026198 to 42
94Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Sherborne33625%Report card 20261910 to 32
95Milborne St Andrew First SchoolAcademy · ages 4-9 · Blandford Forum4328%Good 2023166 to 40
96St John's Church of England First School, WimborneAcademy · ages 5-9 · Wimborne14822%Good 2023167 to 37
97Wyke Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Gillingham16118%Requires improvement 2022156 to 36
98St George's Foundation Primary SchoolFoundation · ages 4-11 · Portland40627%Report card 2026158 to 25
99Charmouth Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 3-11 · Bridport7135%Requires improvement 2022135 to 36
100Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolChurch of England · ages 4-11 · Bridport3312%Requires improvement 2024123 to 44
101Stower Provost Community SchoolCouncil · ages 4-11 · Gillingham9213%No overall grade 2025114 to 37
102Downlands Community SchoolCouncil · ages 3-11 · Blandford Forum2015%Report card 2026116 to 22
103Broadwindsor Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolChurch of England · ages 4-11 · Beaminster9313%Requires improvement 2023104 to 28
104Bincombe Valley Primary SchoolCouncil · ages 2-11 · Weymouth29148%Report card 2026105 to 19
105Portesham Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Weymouth4617%No overall grade 2025103 to 36
106Lulworth and Winfrith CofE Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Wareham9520%No overall grade 202593 to 34
107Sherborne Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Sherborne30418%Report card 202695 to 17
108Milton-on-Stour Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Gillingham11911%Good 202383 to 28
109St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford AbbasAcademy · ages 4-11 · Sherborne9010%Report card 202683 to 23
110Swanage Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 2-11 · Swanage22217%Good 201983 to 24
111Beechcroft St Paul's CofE Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 2-11 · Weymouth18951%Requires improvement 202473 to 15
112Atlantic Academy PortlandAcademy · ages 4-16 · Portland76935%Report card 202664 to 9
113Frome Valley CofE First SchoolAcademy · ages 2-9 · Dorchester14122%No overall grade 202552 to 11
114St Mary & St Joseph's Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Wareham8114%Requires improvement 202452 to 11
115Gillingham Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Gillingham23325%Report card 202642 to 7
116Piddle Valley Church of England First SchoolAcademy · ages 2-9 · Dorchester4023%Good 202342 to 10
117Sturminster Marshall First SchoolCouncil · ages 4-9 · Wimborne4912%No overall grade 202542 to 9
118Shaftesbury Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Shaftesbury33324%Report card 202642 to 6
119St Andrew's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Sherborne9917%Report card 202631 to 6
120St Michael's CofE Primary School, Lyme RegisAcademy · ages 2-11 · Lyme Regis5934%Requires improvement 202231 to 9
121St Catherine's Roman Catholic SchoolAcademy · ages 5-11 · Bridport10021%Report card 202631 to 6
122Marshwood CofE Primary AcademyAcademy · ages 4-11 · Bridport4323%Requires improvement 202421 to 6
123St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Child OkefordAcademy · ages 4-11 · Blandford Forum12514%Report card 202611 to 3
124St Gregory's Church of England Primary School, MarnhullAcademy · ages 4-11 · Sturminster Newton5128%Requires improvement 202210 to 2
125Thorncombe, St Mary's Church of England Primary AcademyAcademy · ages 2-11 · Thorncombe3427%Requires improvement 202300 to 1
All Saints Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolAcademy · ages 4-11 · Sherborne13022%Good 2023–
Damers First SchoolAcademy · ages 4-9 · Dorchester47519%Not inspected–
Hampreston Church of England Voluntary Aided First SchoolAcademy · ages 5-9 · Wimborne13412%Not inspected–
St Mary's Church of England First School, CharminsterAcademy · ages 4-9 · Dorchester14810%Not inspected–
Wyke Regis Infant School and NurseryCouncil · ages 3-7 · Weymouth22023%Not inspected–

Primary schools by town in Dorset

Beaminster3 schoolsBlandford Forum10 schoolsBridport10 schoolsDorchester19 schoolsFerndown6 schoolsGillingham6 schoolsPoole3 schoolsRingwood1 schoolsShaftesbury4 schoolsSherborne7 schoolsSturminster Newton4 schoolsSwanage4 schoolsVerwood4 schoolsWareham9 schoolsWeymouth14 schoolsWimborne18 schools

Primary schools in nearby areas

Devon312 schoolsGloucestershire241 schoolsSomerset226 schoolsCornwall236 schoolsWiltshire201 schoolsBristol, City of104 schoolsSouth Gloucestershire96 schoolsBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole69 schoolsPlymouth69 schoolsBath and North East Somerset63 schoolsSwindon67 schoolsNorth Somerset64 schools

About this list

Schools are listed by their School Chooser Score, highest first. Schools without a score (independent schools and those with too little published data) come after, in alphabetical order. The score compares each school with schools that have a similar mix of pupils, not just with each other, so a school with a lower score in a wealthier area may still have better exam results. How the score works.