Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School
| Type | Primary / Voluntary controlled school |
| Age Range | 3-9 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Duck Street Cerne Abbas Dorchester Dorset DT2 7LA |
| Reference Number | 113759 |
Cerne Abbas C of E VC First School has been inspected for the first time in over a decade and has been rated as good overall, reflecting a solid return to routine evaluations. The school offers a broad and ambitious curriculum, and its pupils feel happy, safe, and engaged, showcasing a healthy rate of attendance and excellent links with the local community. The leadership has maintained high expectations and a positive learning environment, where behaviour is commendable and staff morale is high. Notably, the school has supportive parental involvement and encourages both academic and personal development.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 81 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 64.2%
Girls: 35.8% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 7.4% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 1.2% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 22.7 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 19.5 |
| Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher | 29 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | 6 | 15 |
| 2 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| 3 | 12 | 2 | 14 |
| 4 | 10 | 5 | 15 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 93.8% |
| White, Other | 2.5% |
| Mixed, Other | 2.5% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 1.2% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| > Quality of education | Good |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Good |
| > Personal Development | Good |
| > Leadership & Management | Good |
| > Early Years Provision | Good |
| Last Report Date | 12 Jul 2023 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 12 Jul 2023 | School inspection: |
| 14 Feb 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 27 Sep 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 16 Jun 2003 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate high attendance and a positive attitude towards school.
- Strong links with the local community enhance students' learning experiences.
- Effective phonics program leads to confident and fluent readers.
- High levels of staff morale, with staff feeling well supported by leadership.
- Regular staff training ensures subject knowledge is strong.
Areas for Improvement
- Quality of pupils' written work does not consistently reflect their knowledge and skills.
- Some learning activities lack precision, failing to deepen pupils' understanding effectively.
2025 Admissions
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 3 | 0 |
| Third Preference | 3 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
Unlock| Name | Distance |
|
Piddle Valley Church of England First School
Piddletrenthide, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7QL |
2.92 miles |
|
Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School
Buckland Newton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7BY |
3.07 miles |
|
Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary School
Chilfrome Lane, Maiden Newton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 0AX |
4.8 miles |
| Name | Distance |