Piddle Valley Church of England First School
Ofsted: GoodAcademy converter · Primary
Dorchester · DT2 7QL · Dorset
Ages 2–9
- Absence13.4%
- FSM22.5%
- Demand1.00
2.9 miles away
OpenPrimaryOfsted: GoodURN 113759
Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School
Voluntary controlled school · Dorchester · DT2 7LA
Ages 3–9 · 77 pupils · Dorset
Ofsted
Good
Overall absence
4.5%
Admissions demand
1.00 · Balanced demand
Ofsted
Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.
Headline
Good
Inspection date
2023-07-12
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding effective
- Yes
Absence
Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.
Overall absence4.5%
Persistent absence (10%+)6.0%
Unauthorised0.6%
- Authorised absence
- 3.9%
- Severe absence (50%+)
- 2.0%
- Enrolments in measure
- 50
Absence trend
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
- Overall
- Persistent (10%+)
Admissions demand
Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.
Demand ratio
1.00 · Balanced demand
1st preferences
11
Places offered
11
1st-preference offers
11
- Total preferences (any rank)
- 22
- Preferred offers (top 3)
- 11
- Applications from outside LA
- 0
- Offers to outside-LA applicants
- 0
Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.
Size & intake
From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).
Capacity fill103%
77 pupils · 75 places
- Pupils on roll
- 77
- Boys / girls
- 46 / 31
- School capacity
- 75
- Capacity fill
- 77 / 75 (103%)
- Free school meals
- 5.7%
- FSM pupils
- 4
- Gender
- Mixed
- School type
- Voluntary controlled school
Age range
Ages 3–9
05111619
Provision
Official GIAS characteristics
1 / 6
- NurseryHas Nursery Classes
- Sixth form
- Boarding
- Special school
- Independent
- Academy
School characteristics
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Diocese
- Diocese of Salisbury
- Special classes
- No Special Classes
- Governance
- Voluntary controlled school
- Headteacher
- Mrs Catherine Cresswell
Location
- Address
- Duck Street, Cerne Abbas
- Postcode
- DT2 7LA
- Town
- Dorchester
- County
- Dorset
- Local authority
- Dorset
- District
- Dorset
- Constituency
- West Dorset
- Urban/rural
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
Local context
How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.
Mixed voluntary controlled school (primary), Ages 3–9, in Dorchester, Dorset, 77 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery. Free school meals: 5.7%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of Salisbury.
Nearby primary schools
Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.
New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.
Contact
- Headteacher
- Mrs Catherine Cresswell
- Telephone
- 01300341319