What did Ofsted judge Merley First School's overall effectiveness to be?

Ofsted judged Merley First School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in November 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend Merley First School?

Merley First School has 292 pupils on roll.

What ages does Merley First School take?

Merley First School admits pupils aged 5 to 9.

Where is Merley First School located?

Merley First School is located in Wimborne, BH21 1SD, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

How do I apply to Merley First School?

Merley First School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for primary places is 15 January.

How close do you need to live to get into Merley First School?

On offer day for 2025-26 (Reception), the furthest place offered at Merley First School was 2.022 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.

How are Reception places decided at Merley First School?

When Merley First School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked After Children / previously Looked After Children — Looked After Children or previously Looked After Children, including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Catchment sibling — Children who live in the school's catchment area who have a sibling who is already on the roll of the school and will continue to attend the school at the time of admission; 3. Catchment medical/psychological — Children who live in the school's catchment area who have a significant medical or psychological condition, and 4 further criteria. The school offers 60 places at this entry point. Tie-break: If a school is oversubscribed in any of the categories above, children in the oversubscribed category who live closest to the school will be given priority. If the distance measurement is equal for two or more applicants the place will be allocated by the drawing of lots.

What is the largest ethnic background at Merley First School?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 90.8% of pupils at Merley First School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Merley First School: Ofsted, Results & Catchment 2026

School AtlasBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

School AtlasBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

How close did you need to live?

2.022miles

was the furthest place offered on offer day for 2025-26 (Reception). That is how far the last place reached in ONE year — not a boundary, and not a guarantee. It moves with the number of applicants, so treat it as a guide rather than a line on a map.

Last distance offered at Merley First School, year by year →

How places are decided at Merley First School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked After Children / previously Looked After Children — Looked After Children or previously Looked After Children, including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Catchment sibling — Children who live in the school's catchment area who have a sibling who is already on the roll of the school and will continue to attend the school at the time of admission.
3Catchment medical/psychological — Children who live in the school's catchment area who have a significant medical or psychological condition.
4All other catchment children — All other children who live in the school's catchment area.
5Out-of-catchment sibling — Children who live outside the school's catchment area who have a sibling who is already on the roll of the school and will continue to attend the school at the time of admission.
6Out-of-catchment medical/psychological — Children who live outside the school's catchment area who have a significant medical or psychological condition.
7All other children — All other children who live outside the school's catchment area.

If two applications tie: If a school is oversubscribed in any of the categories above, children in the oversubscribed category who live closest to the school will be given priority. If the distance measurement is equal for two or more applicants the place will be allocated by the drawing of lots.

Children with an EHCP naming the school are admitted before preferences are considered, as stated in the document but not numbered as a criterion.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

Merley First School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Merley First School's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Merley First School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in November 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Merley First School?: Merley First School has 292 pupils on roll.
What ages does Merley First School take?: Merley First School admits pupils aged 5 to 9.
Where is Merley First School located?: Merley First School is located in Wimborne, BH21 1SD, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
How do I apply to Merley First School?: Merley First School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for primary places is 15 January.
How close do you need to live to get into Merley First School?: On offer day for 2025-26 (Reception), the furthest place offered at Merley First School was 2.022 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Reception places decided at Merley First School?: When Merley First School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked After Children / previously Looked After Children — Looked After Children or previously Looked After Children, including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Catchment sibling — Children who live in the school's catchment area who have a sibling who is already on the roll of the school and will continue to attend the school at the time of admission; 3. Catchment medical/psychological — Children who live in the school's catchment area who have a significant medical or psychological condition, and 4 further criteria. The school offers 60 places at this entry point. Tie-break: If a school is oversubscribed in any of the categories above, children in the oversubscribed category who live closest to the school will be given priority. If the distance measurement is equal for two or more applicants the place will be allocated by the drawing of lots.
What is the largest ethnic background at Merley First School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 90.8% of pupils at Merley First School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

League tables in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Compare Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole schools Best primary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole hub All Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole schools Schools on map Admissions checker Catchment areas guide What to ask on a visit

Same phase, ranked by distance and how closely they match.

Interested in this school?Register interest and we'll pass your details on if it joins School Atlas.Register interest

This school hasn't claimed its profile yet, so it can't receive enquiries here. Leave your details and we'll pass them on if the school joins School Atlas.

Nearby schools within 5 km

How close did you need to live?

2.022miles

Last distance offered at Merley First School, year by year →

How places are decided at Merley First School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked After Children / previously Looked After Children — Looked After Children or previously Looked After Children, including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Catchment sibling — Children who live in the school's catchment area who have a sibling who is already on the roll of the school and will continue to attend the school at the time of admission.
3Catchment medical/psychological — Children who live in the school's catchment area who have a significant medical or psychological condition.
4All other catchment children — All other children who live in the school's catchment area.
5Out-of-catchment sibling — Children who live outside the school's catchment area who have a sibling who is already on the roll of the school and will continue to attend the school at the time of admission.
6Out-of-catchment medical/psychological — Children who live outside the school's catchment area who have a significant medical or psychological condition.
7All other children — All other children who live outside the school's catchment area.

Children with an EHCP naming the school are admitted before preferences are considered, as stated in the document but not numbered as a criterion.

Merley First School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Merley First School's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Merley First School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in November 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Merley First School?: Merley First School has 292 pupils on roll.
What ages does Merley First School take?: Merley First School admits pupils aged 5 to 9.
Where is Merley First School located?: Merley First School is located in Wimborne, BH21 1SD, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
How do I apply to Merley First School?: Merley First School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for primary places is 15 January.
How close do you need to live to get into Merley First School?: On offer day for 2025-26 (Reception), the furthest place offered at Merley First School was 2.022 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Reception places decided at Merley First School?: When Merley First School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked After Children / previously Looked After Children — Looked After Children or previously Looked After Children, including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Catchment sibling — Children who live in the school's catchment area who have a sibling who is already on the roll of the school and will continue to attend the school at the time of admission; 3. Catchment medical/psychological — Children who live in the school's catchment area who have a significant medical or psychological condition, and 4 further criteria. The school offers 60 places at this entry point. Tie-break: If a school is oversubscribed in any of the categories above, children in the oversubscribed category who live closest to the school will be given priority. If the distance measurement is equal for two or more applicants the place will be allocated by the drawing of lots.
What is the largest ethnic background at Merley First School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 90.8% of pupils at Merley First School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Same phase, ranked by distance and how closely they match.

Merley First School

How close did you need to live?

How places are decided at Merley First School

Merley First School: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Merley First School

Nearby schools within 5 km

How close did you need to live?

How places are decided at Merley First School

Merley First School: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Nearby schools within 5 km