Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School
Ofsted: Needs attentionAcademy converter · Primary
Shaftesbury · SP7 8PZ · Dorset
Ages 4–11
- KS240%
- Absence5.6%
- FSM24.3%
- Demand1.00
1.0 miles away
OpenPrimaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 113850
The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury
Voluntary aided school · Shaftesbury · SP7 8HQ
Ages 4–11 · 201 pupils · Dorset
Ofsted
School remains Good
KS2 expected (RWM)
58%
Overall absence
5.6%
Admissions demand
1.03 · Balanced demand
Ofsted
Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.
Headline
School remains Good
Inspection date
2023-01-26
Performance
Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.
Key stage 2 (2023/24)
Expected standard (RWM)58%
Higher standard (RWM)10%
- Avg scaled score — reading
- 103.0
- Avg scaled score — maths
- 103.0
- Avg scaled score — GPS
- 104.0
Absence
Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.
Overall absence5.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)17.5%
Unauthorised1.0%
- Authorised absence
- 4.5%
- Severe absence (50%+)
- 0.0%
- Enrolments in measure
- 177
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
1.03 · Balanced demand
1st preferences
30
Places offered
29
1st-preference offers
28
- Total preferences (any rank)
- 63
- Preferred offers (top 3)
- 29
- Applications from outside LA
- 5
- 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 fill96%
201 pupils · 210 places
- Pupils on roll
- 201
- Boys / girls
- 101 / 100
- School capacity
- 210
- Capacity fill
- 201 / 210 (96%)
- Free school meals
- 16.9%
- FSM pupils
- 34
- Gender
- Mixed
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
Age range
Ages 4–11
05111619
Provision
Official GIAS characteristics
0 / 6
- Nursery
- 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 aided school
- Headteacher
- Mr Michael Salisbury
Location
- Address
- St James's Street, St James St
- Postcode
- SP7 8HQ
- Town
- Shaftesbury
- County
- Dorset
- Local authority
- Dorset
- District
- Dorset
- Constituency
- North Dorset
- Urban/rural
- Larger 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 aided school (primary), Ages 4–11, in Shaftesbury, Dorset, 201 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 16.9%. 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.
Motcombe CofE Primary School
Ofsted: GoodAcademy converter · Primary
Shaftesbury · SP7 9NT · Dorset
Ages 4–11
- KS232%
- Absence5.4%
- FSM16.4%
- Demand1.00
1.8 miles away
Ludwell Primary School
Ofsted: GoodAcademy sponsor led · Primary
Shaftesbury · SP7 9ND · Wiltshire
Ages 4–11
- KS236%
- Absence5.3%
- FSM16.9%
- Demand1.00
2.9 miles away
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Contact
- Headteacher
- Mr Michael Salisbury
- Telephone
- 01747852620