Gillingham Primary School

Gillingham Primary School demonstrates a strong overall performance, particularly in the areas of safeguarding and attendance, where proactive strategies are in place to support students and their families. The school fosters a positive and inclusive culture, where pupils feel safe and valued, contributing to a strong sense of community. However, there are notable areas for improvement, specifically concerning the achievement of pupils in reading, writing, and mathematics, which remain below average. Special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) support also requires enhancement to ensure all pupils can fully engage and succeed in the curriculum.

Strengths

• Strong safeguarding standards met, with a culture of safety
• High standards of behaviour and positive attitudes among pupils
• Effective early years provision that fosters independence
• Proactive attendance strategies that result in nearly average levels
• Strong pastoral care that supports emotional wellbeing

Areas for Improvement

• Achievement in reading, writing, and mathematics is below average
• Gaps in knowledge persist for disadvantaged pupils
• Curriculum and teaching do not always facilitate expected progress
• Lack of precision in setting targets for pupils with SEND
• Inconsistent monitoring of pupils' understanding leading to gaps

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 Gillingham Primary School attended 94.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.1% 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, 4.3% of pupils at Gillingham 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 Gillingham Primary School had 19.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 3.5% 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, 18.5% of pupils at Gillingham Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 10.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has resourced provision with 11 pupils.

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 2024–25 Gillingham Primary School received £8,882 and spent £8,955 for each of its 234 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £66,000 (£282 per pupil).

Across all 21 schools of Pickwick Academy Trust, income was £6,042 and spending £5,893 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Gillingham (Dorset) · Dorset local authority: places and applications

Gillingham Primary School is part of Pickwick Academy Trust, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• Wyke Primary School Gillingham
• Milton-on-Stour Church of England Primary School Gillingham
• St George's Church of England School, Bourton Gillingham
• St Gregory's Church of England Primary School, Marnhull Sturminster Newton
• Ludwell Primary School Shaftesbury
• All Saints Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Sherborne
• Princecroft Primary School Warminster
• Woodford Valley Church of England Aided School Salisbury
• Longford Church of England Primary School Salisbury
• Greentrees Primary School Salisbury

What is Gillingham Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Gillingham Primary School is Needs attention, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was Gillingham Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Gillingham Primary School was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does Gillingham Primary School have?

Gillingham Primary School has 233 pupils on roll.

What age range does Gillingham Primary School cover?

Gillingham Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Gillingham Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Gillingham Primary School?

Gillingham Primary School is at School Road, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QR.