School Chooser

St Andrew's Church of England Primary School

Primary · ages 4-11MixedAcademyChurch of England99 pupilsSherborneDorset
School Chooser Score
3
Well below
similar schools
Likely range 1 to 6
Out of 100. Better than 2% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedNeeds attention teachingOfsted report card, March 2026
Reached the expected level at 1131%England 63%
Attendance94.7%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families17%Far fewer than most schools
Parents would recommend88%24 Parent View responses
Places101 spare99 pupils, 200 places

St Andrew's Church of England Primary School is a converter academy in Sherborne for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 99 pupils and room for 200. About 17 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 3 out of 100. That puts it well below schools like it, ahead of 2% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in March 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.

Stonyacres, Yetminster, Sherborne, DT9 6LS01935 872430yetminster.dorset.sch.ukMrs Anna Hedges headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted visited on 24 March 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.

TeachingOfsted calls this “curriculum and teaching”
Needs attention
Achievement
Needs attention
Behaviour and attendanceOfsted calls this “attendance and behaviour”
Needs attention
Support for every childOfsted calls this “inclusion”
Needs attention
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development and wellbeing”
As expected
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and governance”
Needs attention
Early years
Needs attention
SafeguardingAre pupils kept safe?
Pupils are kept safe
Met
Ofsted's scale:ExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement

Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
21 September 2021S5 InspectionGood

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

17 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.

Reached the expected level at 1131%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level6%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score102.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score101.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 45%45%20172018: 71%71%20182019: 48%48%20192023: 26%26%20232024: 44%44%20242025: 31%31%2025
Since 2017: -14%Declining overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017†DorsetEngland
Pupils tested17923251722
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths31%44%26%48%71%45%57%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths6%11%4%4%6%0%7%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score102.0105.0103.0102.0104.0100.0104.8105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score101.0103.097.0100.0103.0100.0103.3104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score100.0103.099.0102.0106.0103.0104.0105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard71%56%57%56%82%55%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard47%44%26%56%88%68%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)38%56%52%68%76%59%
Reading progressReading progress score-1.6-1.1-2.2-3.8
Maths progressMaths progress score-7.1-3.2-1.6-3.6
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged56%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged44%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

† These results are for St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Yetminster, the school this one replaced in June 2017. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. None of the gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
14%44%
Gap 30 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

Plenty of spare places106 pupils for 203 places, 2024/25
52% full

97 places were empty (48% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 17% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Dorset council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

What parents say

Would recommend the school88%England 87%
My child is happy here96%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe92%
Positive overall88%
My child is happy at this school
96%England 89%
My child feels safe at this school
92%England 90%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
71%England 83%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
17% yesEngland 18%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
50%England 50%
My child gets the right support to learn well
83%England 85%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
25% yesEngland 26%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
67%England 71%
The school communicates well with me
92%England 80%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
88%England 69%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
92%England 82%
I would recommend this school
88%England 87%
Overall view of the school is positive
88%England 82%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 24 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for primary schools with enough answers to publish.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll99Census January 2026
Places20050% full
Pupils from low-income families17%17% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English1%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support14%14 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan4%4 pupils with a plan
Average class size27.52 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils50%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)20%£32,550 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls39 / 60
White British pupils94%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (8), language and communications needs (7), Autistic spectrum disorder (3).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll9910799118133126
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals17%21%19%16%14%13%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language1%2%3%3%2%4%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support25%18%14%15%17%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans1%2%4%4%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 94.7% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance94.7%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school16.0%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils19.62024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.1%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence5.3%6.1%6.8%5.3%3.7%4.5%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.2%4.5%5.8%4.3%3.0%3.2%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.1%1.6%1.1%1.1%0.7%1.3%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence16.0%17.2%14.4%13.6%8.8%9.2%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate19.69.14.24.53.2
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

Staff

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025.

Teachers4.8full-time equivalent, 6 people
Pupils per teacher20.6Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants5.4full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£45,829
Teachers who left in the year8%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher1.12024/25

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m3312 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate33 per 1,000 people64% lower than the England average
Typical house price£345,000Dorset
Nearest bus stop80 mColes Lane, 2 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Thornford CofE Primary SchoolAcademy1.6 miles104No overall grade 202459Compare
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford AbbasAcademy2.0 miles90Report card 20268Compare
Barwick and Stoford Community Primary SchoolCouncil2.5 miles58Requires improvement 20232Compare
East Coker Community Primary SchoolCouncil3.5 miles199Good 202343Compare
Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy3.7 miles336Report card 202619Compare
Reckleford Infant School and NurseryCouncil3.7 miles128Good 20233Compare
Pen Mill Infant and Nursery AcademyAcademy3.8 miles156Requires improvement 20220Compare
St. Michael's AcademyAcademy3.8 miles264Good 201972Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares St Andrew's Church of England Primary School with the 47 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 47 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats2%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
Near the bottom of its group. Its score of 3 is 36 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 0 · middle 38 · highest 89100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 47 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Buckland Newton Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy7.2 miles110Report card 202655Compare
Hambridge Community Primary SchoolAcademy13.8 miles104Good 202383Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 3 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 3% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 1 to 6. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%below
-0.17
2025 and 2023 results; 17 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well below
-0.56
Ofsted report card, 0.5 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.18
DfE progress measure; 17 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%below
-0.07
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
-0.02
2024/25; 100 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%well below
-0.21
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 17 pupils
What parents say5%in line
0.00
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 24 responses

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is St Andrew's Church of England Primary School a good school?

The figures are weak. St Andrew's Church of England Primary School scores 3 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 2% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 1 to 6, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is St Andrew's Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 24 March 2026 it rated teaching as needs attention, achievement as needs attention, behaviour and attendance as needs attention, leadership as needs attention.

How good are St Andrew's Church of England Primary School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 31% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 6% went further and reached the higher level. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.

How many pupils does St Andrew's Church of England Primary School have?

99 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 200 places, so it is 50% full.

Is St Andrew's Church of England Primary School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 97 places were empty in 2024/25 (48% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at St Andrew's Church of England Primary School?

Pupils were in school 94.7% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 16% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about St Andrew's Church of England Primary School?

88% of the 24 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 96% say their child is happy there. Across England, 87% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at St Andrew's Church of England Primary School?

The average class had 27.5 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 50% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Stonyacres, Yetminster, Sherborne, DT9 6LS
Telephone
01935 872430
Website
www.yetminster.dorset.sch.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Anna Hedges
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 4-11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England, Diocese of Salisbury
Multi-academy trust
Sherborne Area Schools' Trust (18 schools)
Local authority
Dorset
Ward
Yetminster
Constituency
West Dorset
Setting
Larger rural: Further from a major town or city
Opened
1 June 2017 (academy converter)
URN
144416 · LAESTAB 8383058 · UKPRN 10063973
Formerly
St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Yetminster

Where these figures come from