What did Ofsted judge Puddletown Church of England First School's quality of education to be?

Ofsted judged Puddletown Church of England First School's quality of education as Good at its inspection in June 2025, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend Puddletown Church of England First School?

Puddletown Church of England First School has 134 pupils on roll.

What ages does Puddletown Church of England First School take?

Puddletown Church of England First School admits pupils aged 4 to 9.

Where is Puddletown Church of England First School located?

Puddletown Church of England First School is located in Dorchester, DT2 8FZ, Dorset.

How do I apply to Puddletown Church of England First School?

Puddletown Church of England 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 Puddletown Church of England First School have a religious character?

Yes — Puddletown Church of England 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 close do you need to live to get into Puddletown Church of England First School?

On offer day for 2024-25 (Reception), the furthest place offered at Puddletown Church of England First School was 3.527 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 Puddletown Church of England First School?

When Puddletown Church of England 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. Catchment Area with sibling — 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 30 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 Puddletown Church of England First School?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 95.5% of pupils at Puddletown Church of England First School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Puddletown Church of England First School: Catchment 2026

How close did you need to live?

3.527miles

was the furthest place offered on offer day for 2024-25 (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 Puddletown Church of England First School, year by year →

How places are decided at Puddletown Church of England 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.
3Catchment Area with sibling — 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.
4Catchment Area and 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.
5Outside Catchment Area and designated feeder school — Children not living in the Catchment Area and attending a designated feeder school - see above.
6Living in Catchment Area, not feeder school — Children living in the Catchment Area and not attending a designated feeder school.
7Outside Catchment Area with sibling — 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.
8Outside Catchment Area meeting 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 — Priority will be given to children for whom staff members have parental responsibility, where the staff member has been employed by the school for two or more years at the time at which the application was made, and/or where the member of staff has been recruited to fill a vacant post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
10All other children — All 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.

No designated feeder schools listed for Puddletown CE First School in the table (N/A). Puddletown CE First School is itself listed as a feeder school for St Mary's CE Middle School.

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.

Puddletown Church of England First School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Puddletown Church of England First School's quality of education to be?: Ofsted judged Puddletown Church of England First School's quality of education as Good at its inspection in June 2025, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Puddletown Church of England First School?: Puddletown Church of England First School has 134 pupils on roll.
What ages does Puddletown Church of England First School take?: Puddletown Church of England First School admits pupils aged 4 to 9.
Where is Puddletown Church of England First School located?: Puddletown Church of England First School is located in Dorchester, DT2 8FZ, Dorset.
How do I apply to Puddletown Church of England First School?: Puddletown Church of England 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 Puddletown Church of England First School have a religious character?: Yes — Puddletown Church of England 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 close do you need to live to get into Puddletown Church of England First School?: On offer day for 2024-25 (Reception), the furthest place offered at Puddletown Church of England First School was 3.527 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 Puddletown Church of England First School?: When Puddletown Church of England 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. Catchment Area with sibling — 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 30 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 Puddletown Church of England First School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 95.5% of pupils at Puddletown Church of England First School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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

Connected nurseries & schools

On-site nursery & childcare

Separately-registered childcare operating at this school's site, each with its own Ofsted record.

Puddletown Pre-School

Nursery

Good

Links are derived from Ofsted registration addresses and published admission arrangements. Always confirm current arrangements with the school.

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How close did you need to live?

3.527miles

Last distance offered at Puddletown Church of England First School, year by year →

How places are decided at Puddletown Church of England 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.
3Catchment Area with sibling — 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.
4Catchment Area and 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.
5Outside Catchment Area and designated feeder school — Children not living in the Catchment Area and attending a designated feeder school - see above.
6Living in Catchment Area, not feeder school — Children living in the Catchment Area and not attending a designated feeder school.
7Outside Catchment Area with sibling — 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.
8Outside Catchment Area meeting 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 — Priority will be given to children for whom staff members have parental responsibility, where the staff member has been employed by the school for two or more years at the time at which the application was made, and/or where the member of staff has been recruited to fill a vacant post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
10All other children — All 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.

No designated feeder schools listed for Puddletown CE First School in the table (N/A). Puddletown CE First School is itself listed as a feeder school for St Mary's CE Middle School.

Puddletown Church of England First School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Puddletown Church of England First School's quality of education to be?: Ofsted judged Puddletown Church of England First School's quality of education as Good at its inspection in June 2025, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Puddletown Church of England First School?: Puddletown Church of England First School has 134 pupils on roll.
What ages does Puddletown Church of England First School take?: Puddletown Church of England First School admits pupils aged 4 to 9.
Where is Puddletown Church of England First School located?: Puddletown Church of England First School is located in Dorchester, DT2 8FZ, Dorset.
How do I apply to Puddletown Church of England First School?: Puddletown Church of England 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 Puddletown Church of England First School have a religious character?: Yes — Puddletown Church of England 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 close do you need to live to get into Puddletown Church of England First School?: On offer day for 2024-25 (Reception), the furthest place offered at Puddletown Church of England First School was 3.527 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 Puddletown Church of England First School?: When Puddletown Church of England 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. Catchment Area with sibling — 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 30 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 Puddletown Church of England First School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 95.5% of pupils at Puddletown Church of England 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.

Connected nurseries & schools

On-site nursery & childcare

Separately-registered childcare operating at this school's site, each with its own Ofsted record.

Puddletown Pre-School

Nursery

Good

Links are derived from Ofsted registration addresses and published admission arrangements. Always confirm current arrangements with the school.

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.

Puddletown Church of England First School

How close did you need to live?

How places are decided at Puddletown Church of England First School

Puddletown Church of England First School: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Puddletown Church of England First School

Connected nurseries & schools

On-site nursery & childcare

How close did you need to live?

How places are decided at Puddletown Church of England First School

Puddletown Church of England First School: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Connected nurseries & schools

On-site nursery & childcare