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OpenPrimaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 142514

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery

Academy converter · Ferndown · BH22 0JF

Ages 2–9 · 148 pupils · Dorset

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

Overall absence

5.7%

Admissions demand

0.95 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

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Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2025-04-23

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence5.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)13.4%
Unauthorised1.5%
Authorised absence
4.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.8%
Enrolments in measure
119

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

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

0.95 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

21

Places offered

22

1st-preference offers

21

Total preferences (any rank)
53
Preferred offers (top 3)
22
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 fill80%

148 pupils · 184 places

Pupils on roll
148
Boys / girls
72 / 76
School capacity
184
Capacity fill
148 / 184 (80%)
Free school meals
16.6%
FSM pupils
24
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 2–9

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 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
Academy trust: THE HEATH ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
THE HEATH ACADEMY TRUST
Headteacher
Mrs Laura Crossley

Location

Address
Station Road, West Moors
Postcode
BH22 0JF
Town
Ferndown
County
Dorset
Local authority
Dorset
District
Dorset
Constituency
Christchurch
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to 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 academy converter (primary), Ages 2–9, in Ferndown, Dorset, 148 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, academy. Free school meals: 16.6%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of Salisbury.

Open schools in Ferndown
7
Primary schools in Ferndown
4
Academies among open schools in Ferndown
71% (5)
Open schools in BH22
7
Primary in BH22
4
Open schools in Dorset LA
184
Primary in Dorset LA
119

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in FerndownNear BH22

  • Oakhurst Community First School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Primary

    Ferndown · BH22 0DY · Dorset

    Ages 5–9

    • Absence4.9%
    • FSM20.8%
    • Demand0.96

    0.6 miles away

  • Ferndown First School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Ferndown · BH22 9FB · Dorset

    Ages 4–9

    • Absence5.6%
    • FSM18.5%
    • Demand0.79

    1.9 miles away

  • Parley First School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Ferndown · BH22 8QE · Dorset

    Ages 4–9

    • Absence5.4%
    • FSM11.5%
    • Demand1.32

    2.5 miles away

  • St Ives Primary & Nursery School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Primary

    Ringwood · BH24 2LE · Dorset

    Ages 2–11

    • KS287%
    • Absence3.7%
    • FSM5.3%
    • Demand1.45

    2.9 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Laura Crossley
Telephone
01202874838
Website
www.stmaryswestmoors.org/

Official links