Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is currently rated as requiring improvement in its overall effectiveness. The school has seen a change in leadership with a new headteacher prioritizing curriculum development. While there have been positive steps towards enhancing the educational offering, there are significant gaps in the curriculum that prevent many pupils from acquiring the essential knowledge needed. Parents appreciate the school’s focus on the whole child, contributing to a supportive and safe environment where pupils feel happy. Despite the notable strengths in personal development and the positive behaviour of pupils, the quality of education delivered remains inconsistent. Areas such as early reading and phonics instruction have been identified as needing substantial improvement. The school is aware of these issues and has begun implementing plans to rectify them. Nevertheless, these concerns need to be addressed promptly to ensure all students can succeed academically and personally.

Strengths

• New leadership is ambitious about curriculum development.
• Pupils feel safe and valued in a supportive environment.
• Opportunities for personal development including music and outdoor activities.
• Pupils display a strong understanding of British values.
• Strong relationships between staff and students enhance the educational atmosphere.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum for early reading and phonics lacks structure and effectiveness.
• Significant gaps in pupils' phonics knowledge.
• Inconsistent curriculum planning across subjects affects learning outcomes.
• Assessment practices are not effectively used to inform teaching.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School attended 93.9% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 13.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School had 8.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 27.3% of pupils at Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 18.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School received £13,728 and spent £15,678 for each of its 33 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £7,000 (£214 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Bridport · Dorset local authority: places and applications

What is Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School have?

Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has 33 pupils on roll.

What age range does Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School cover?

Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?

Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is at School Hill, Powerstock, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3TB.