What did Ofsted judge Frome Valley CofE First School's quality of education to be?

Ofsted judged Frome Valley CofE First School's quality of education as Requires improvement at its inspection in January 2025, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend Frome Valley CofE First School?

Frome Valley CofE First School has 141 pupils on roll.

What ages does Frome Valley CofE First School take?

Frome Valley CofE First School admits pupils aged 2 to 9.

Where is Frome Valley CofE First School located?

Frome Valley CofE First School is located in Dorchester, DT2 8WR, Dorset.

How do I apply to Frome Valley CofE First School?

Frome Valley CofE 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.

Does Frome Valley CofE First School have a religious character?

Yes — Frome Valley CofE First School has a religious character of Church of England. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.

How far from Frome Valley CofE First School were places offered?

The furthest place offered at Frome Valley CofE First School for 2020-21 (Reception) was 1.917 miles from the school. The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.

How are Reception places decided at Frome Valley CofE First School?

When Frome Valley CofE First School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked After Children or Previously Looked After Children — A child who is in the care of an LA or was in the care of an LA but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangement, or special guardianship order. This includes 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. Vulnerable Children — A child is eligible in this category where the child has an identified social or medical need including those that have named the school in their EHCP; 3. Children living in the Catchment Area with a sibling at the school — A child living inside the Catchment Area is eligible for this category where they have a sibling attending the school on the date of application and the sibling will still be attending the school at the time of admission, and 8 further criteria. The school offers 35 places at this entry point. Tie-break: The school will adopt the measurement system of Dorset Council Local Authority to determine the distance from the school to the child's home address. Where two or more applicants live an equal distance from the school and it is not possible to differentiate between them, priority will be determined by random allocation through the drawing of lots supervised by someone independent of the school.

What is the largest ethnic background at Frome Valley CofE First School?

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

Frome Valley CofE First School: Ofsted, Results & Catchment

How far did offers reach?

1.917miles

was the furthest place offered for 2020-21 (Reception). The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.

Last distance offered at Frome Valley CofE First School, year by year →

How places are decided at Frome Valley CofE 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 or Previously Looked After Children — A child who is in the care of an LA or was in the care of an LA but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangement, or special guardianship order. This includes 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.
2Vulnerable Children — A child is eligible in this category where the child has an identified social or medical need including those that have named the school in their EHCP.
3Children living in the Catchment Area with a sibling at the school — A child living inside the Catchment Area is eligible for this category where they have a sibling attending the school on the date of application and the sibling will still be attending the school at the time of admission.
4Children living in the Catchment Area and attending a designated feeder school — A child attending the designated feeder schools as shown in section 2.1. The schools are designated feeder school on account of their geographical proximity to the school into which they feed.
5Children not living in the Catchment Area and attending a designated feeder school — see above.
6Children living in the Catchment Area and not attending a designated feeder school — Children living in the Catchment Area and not attending a designated feeder school.
7Children living outside the Catchment Area with a sibling at the school — A child living outside the Catchment Area is eligible for this category where they have a sibling attending the School on the date of application and the sibling will still be attending the School at the time of admission.
8Children living outside the Catchment Area who meet the faith criterion — A child living outside the Catchment Area is eligible for this category where the child is a regular practising Christian at a Recognised Church or Religious Group. (CE Schools Only)
9Children of staff
10All other children
11Tie-breaker — Where two applications cannot otherwise be separated, the trust will follow a fair, clear and effective 'tie-breaker' procedure by allocating the place to the pupil who lives closest to school.

If two applications tie: The school will adopt the measurement system of Dorset Council Local Authority to determine the distance from the school to the child's home address. Where two or more applicants live an equal distance from the school and it is not possible to differentiate between them, priority will be determined by random allocation through the drawing of lots supervised by someone independent of the school.

Frome Valley CE First School is listed with feeder schools as N/A in section 2.1, but is itself listed as a designated feeder school for St Mary's CE Middle School. It is a CE (Church of England) school subject to the Trust-wide arrangements.

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.

Frome Valley CofE First School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Frome Valley CofE First School's quality of education to be?: Ofsted judged Frome Valley CofE First School's quality of education as Requires improvement at its inspection in January 2025, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Frome Valley CofE First School?: Frome Valley CofE First School has 141 pupils on roll.
What ages does Frome Valley CofE First School take?: Frome Valley CofE First School admits pupils aged 2 to 9.
Where is Frome Valley CofE First School located?: Frome Valley CofE First School is located in Dorchester, DT2 8WR, Dorset.
How do I apply to Frome Valley CofE First School?: Frome Valley CofE 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.
Does Frome Valley CofE First School have a religious character?: Yes — Frome Valley CofE First School has a religious character of Church of England. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.
How far from Frome Valley CofE First School were places offered?: The furthest place offered at Frome Valley CofE First School for 2020-21 (Reception) was 1.917 miles from the school. The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.
How are Reception places decided at Frome Valley CofE First School?: When Frome Valley CofE First School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked After Children or Previously Looked After Children — A child who is in the care of an LA or was in the care of an LA but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangement, or special guardianship order. This includes 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. Vulnerable Children — A child is eligible in this category where the child has an identified social or medical need including those that have named the school in their EHCP; 3. Children living in the Catchment Area with a sibling at the school — A child living inside the Catchment Area is eligible for this category where they have a sibling attending the school on the date of application and the sibling will still be attending the school at the time of admission, and 8 further criteria. The school offers 35 places at this entry point. Tie-break: The school will adopt the measurement system of Dorset Council Local Authority to determine the distance from the school to the child's home address. Where two or more applicants live an equal distance from the school and it is not possible to differentiate between them, priority will be determined by random allocation through the drawing of lots supervised by someone independent of the school.
What is the largest ethnic background at Frome Valley CofE First School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 90.8% of pupils at Frome Valley CofE First School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

League tables in Dorset Compare Dorset schools Best primary schools in Dorset Faith schools in Dorset Dorset hub All Dorset schools Schools on map Admissions checker Faith school admissions guide 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

Broadmayne First School and Nursery — primary in Dorset, Good3.7 km away

How far did offers reach?

1.917miles

was the furthest place offered for 2020-21 (Reception). The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.

Last distance offered at Frome Valley CofE First School, year by year →

How places are decided at Frome Valley CofE 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 or Previously Looked After Children — A child who is in the care of an LA or was in the care of an LA but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangement, or special guardianship order. This includes 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.
2Vulnerable Children — A child is eligible in this category where the child has an identified social or medical need including those that have named the school in their EHCP.
3Children living in the Catchment Area with a sibling at the school — A child living inside the Catchment Area is eligible for this category where they have a sibling attending the school on the date of application and the sibling will still be attending the school at the time of admission.
4Children living in the Catchment Area and attending a designated feeder school — A child attending the designated feeder schools as shown in section 2.1. The schools are designated feeder school on account of their geographical proximity to the school into which they feed.
5Children not living in the Catchment Area and attending a designated feeder school — see above.
6Children living in the Catchment Area and not attending a designated feeder school — Children living in the Catchment Area and not attending a designated feeder school.
7Children living outside the Catchment Area with a sibling at the school — A child living outside the Catchment Area is eligible for this category where they have a sibling attending the School on the date of application and the sibling will still be attending the School at the time of admission.
8Children living outside the Catchment Area who meet the faith criterion — A child living outside the Catchment Area is eligible for this category where the child is a regular practising Christian at a Recognised Church or Religious Group. (CE Schools Only)
9Children of staff
10All other children
11Tie-breaker — Where two applications cannot otherwise be separated, the trust will follow a fair, clear and effective 'tie-breaker' procedure by allocating the place to the pupil who lives closest to school.

Frome Valley CofE First School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Frome Valley CofE First School's quality of education to be?: Ofsted judged Frome Valley CofE First School's quality of education as Requires improvement at its inspection in January 2025, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Frome Valley CofE First School?: Frome Valley CofE First School has 141 pupils on roll.
What ages does Frome Valley CofE First School take?: Frome Valley CofE First School admits pupils aged 2 to 9.
Where is Frome Valley CofE First School located?: Frome Valley CofE First School is located in Dorchester, DT2 8WR, Dorset.
How do I apply to Frome Valley CofE First School?: Frome Valley CofE 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.
Does Frome Valley CofE First School have a religious character?: Yes — Frome Valley CofE First School has a religious character of Church of England. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.
How far from Frome Valley CofE First School were places offered?: The furthest place offered at Frome Valley CofE First School for 2020-21 (Reception) was 1.917 miles from the school. The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.
How are Reception places decided at Frome Valley CofE First School?: When Frome Valley CofE First School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked After Children or Previously Looked After Children — A child who is in the care of an LA or was in the care of an LA but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangement, or special guardianship order. This includes 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. Vulnerable Children — A child is eligible in this category where the child has an identified social or medical need including those that have named the school in their EHCP; 3. Children living in the Catchment Area with a sibling at the school — A child living inside the Catchment Area is eligible for this category where they have a sibling attending the school on the date of application and the sibling will still be attending the school at the time of admission, and 8 further criteria. The school offers 35 places at this entry point. Tie-break: The school will adopt the measurement system of Dorset Council Local Authority to determine the distance from the school to the child's home address. Where two or more applicants live an equal distance from the school and it is not possible to differentiate between them, priority will be determined by random allocation through the drawing of lots supervised by someone independent of the school.
What is the largest ethnic background at Frome Valley CofE First School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 90.8% of pupils at Frome Valley CofE 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.

Frome Valley CofE First School

How far did offers reach?

How places are decided at Frome Valley CofE First School

Frome Valley CofE First School: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Frome Valley CofE First School

Nearby schools within 5 km

How far did offers reach?

How places are decided at Frome Valley CofE First School

Frome Valley CofE First School: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Nearby schools within 5 km