St Andrew's Church of England Primary School
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St Andrew's Church of England Primary School is a sponsored academy in Shaftesbury for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 101 pupils and room for 175. About 18 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 59 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 80% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2024, no overall grade.
West Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, SP7 0PF01747 811500standrewsfontmell.co.ukMr Daniel King headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 24 September 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
5 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.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018† | 2017† | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 5 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 24 | 21 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | – | 80% | 70% | 46% | 50% | 57% | 57% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | – | 0% | 20% | 0% | 4% | 5% | 7% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | – | 107.0 | 108.0 | 100.0 | 105.0 | 101.0 | 104.8 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | – | 106.0 | 107.0 | 100.0 | 101.0 | 101.0 | 103.3 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | – | 109.0 | 108.0 | 99.0 | 102.0 | 103.0 | 104.0 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | – | 93% | 90% | 62% | 71% | 62% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | – | 87% | 90% | 62% | 75% | 71% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | – | 80% | 70% | 62% | 67% | 76% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +5.1 | -4.7 | -1.0 | -2.0 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | +5.5 | -4.3 | -3.5 | -1.7 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | – | – | – | 50% | 44% | 50% | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | – | – | – | 43% | 53% | 62% | – | – |
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, Fontmell Magna, the school this one replaced in November 2017. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
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.
128 places were empty (61% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.
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.
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.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 23.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 27.5 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Moderate learning difficulty (8), emotional and mental health (5), language and communications needs (4), Autistic spectrum disorder (2).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 101 | 81 | 81 | 84 | 83 | 82 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 18% | 24% | 22% | 23% | 18% | 16% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 2% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 16% | 19% | 14% | 11% | 6% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 6% | 4% | 4% | 0% | 0% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.9% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 6.1% | 5.3% | 5.6% | 6.2% | 2.4% | 3.7% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 5.7% | 2.1% | 3.1% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.9% | 1.1% | 1.0% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.6% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 21.5% | 11.5% | 6.6% | 14.1% | 4.0% | 5.8% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 23.5 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 7.2 | 4.9 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025.
The area around the school
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.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Child Okeford | Academy | 3.5 miles | 125 | Report card 2026 | 1 | Compare |
| The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury | Church of England | 3.6 miles | 201 | Good 2022 | 56 | Compare |
| Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School | Academy | 4.2 miles | 333 | Report card 2026 | 4 | Compare |
| Ludwell Primary School | Academy | 4.3 miles | 89 | Good 2024 | 15 | Compare |
| Shillingstone Church of England Primary School | Academy | 4.5 miles | 103 | Good 2023 | 66 | Compare |
| Stower Provost Community School | Council | 4.8 miles | 92 | No overall grade 2025 | 11 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares St Andrew's Church of England Primary School with the 45 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 45 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 59 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 59% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 22 to 87. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. 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 at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | in line | +0.02 | 2024 results; 15 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | in line | +0.01 | Ofsted grade, 2.0 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | above | +0.18 | Contextualised attainment (no DfE progress measure available); 15 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well below | -0.14 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | below | -0.06 | 2024/25; 65 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | above | +0.09 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 15 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
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?
It is about average. St Andrew's Church of England Primary School scores 59 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 80% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 22 to 87, 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 rated St Andrew's Church of England Primary School not judged at its last full inspection on 24 September 2024.
How many pupils does St Andrew's Church of England Primary School have?
101 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 175 places, so it is 58% full.
Is St Andrew's Church of England Primary School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 128 places were empty in 2024/25 (61% 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 93.9% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 22% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at St Andrew's Church of England Primary School?
The average class had 25.3 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class 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
- West Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, SP7 0PF
- Telephone
- 01747 811500
- Website
- www.standrewsfontmell.co.uk
- Headteacher
- Mr Daniel King
- Type of school
- Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, 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
- Beacon
- Constituency
- North Dorset
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 November 2017 (new provision)
- URN
- 144951 · LAESTAB 8382018 · UKPRN 10065369
- Formerly
- St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Fontmell Magna
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.