Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School

Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School demonstrates a strong overall performance, meeting the expected standards in multiple areas such as safeguarding, attendance, and pupil achievement. The school has established a supportive culture where pupils feel safe and valued, contributing to their strong attendance and positive behaviour. Academically, pupils show proficiency in foundational skills, particularly in phonics and early reading, setting a solid foundation for their continued education. Leaders are aware of the areas requiring improvement, particularly in addressing gaps in foundational knowledge and refining support for pupils with special educational needs.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate confidence and fluency in their multiplication and phonics skills.
• Attendance rates are consistently above national averages.
• Leaders prioritize emotional wellbeing and incorporate pastoral support effectively.
• Pupils enjoy a well-rounded curriculum that includes extracurricular activities and trips.
• The school fosters a strong culture of respect and positive behaviour.

Areas for Improvement

• Teachers do not consistently address gaps in pupils' understanding swiftly.
• Some adaptations for pupils with SEND require further refinement to enhance their progress.

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 Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School attended 95.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.3% 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, 1.5% of pupils at Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First 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 Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School had 12.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 25.0% 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, 25.0% of pupils at Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.3% 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 Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School received £10,966 and spent £10,469 for each of its 60 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £51,000 (-£847 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 Dorchester · Dorset local authority: places and applications

What is Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School is Needs attention, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School last inspected by Ofsted?

Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School have?

Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School has 60 pupils on roll.

What age range does Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School cover?

Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School for pupils aged 3 to 9.

Where is Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School?

Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School is at Winterbourne Abbas, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9LW.