Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School
Voluntary aided school · Dorchester · DT2 9LW
Ages 3–9 · 60 pupils · Dorset
Ofsted
Expected standard
Overall absence
4.6%
Admissions demand
0.92 · Balanced demand
Ofsted
Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.
Headline
Expected standard
Inspection date
2026-01-27
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
- InclusionExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: Met
Absence
Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.
- Authorised absence
- 3.3%
- Severe absence (50%+)
- 0.0%
- Enrolments in measure
- 55
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
0.92 · Balanced demand
1st preferences
12
Places offered
14
1st-preference offers
12
- Total preferences (any rank)
- 24
- Preferred offers (top 3)
- 13
- 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).
60 pupils · 90 places
- Pupils on roll
- 60
- Boys / girls
- 37 / 23
- School capacity
- 90
- Capacity fill
- 60 / 90 (67%)
- Free school meals
- 13.3%
- FSM pupils
- 8
- Gender
- Mixed
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
Age range
Ages 3–9
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 aided school
- Headteacher
- Mrs Emma Sleightholme
Location
- Address
- Winterbourne Abbas
- Postcode
- DT2 9LW
- 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 aided school (primary), Ages 3–9, in Dorchester, Dorset, 60 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery. Free school meals: 13.3%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of Salisbury.
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Contact
- Headteacher
- Mrs Emma Sleightholme
- Telephone
- 01305889297