What did School Atlas judge Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School's summary of 6 ofsted judgements to be?

School Atlas judged Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School's summary of 6 ofsted judgements as Strong standard at its inspection in June 2026, on School Atlas's own scale.

How many pupils attend Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School?

Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School has 336 pupils on roll.

What ages does Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School take?

Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School admits pupils aged 4 to 11.

How do I apply to Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School?

Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary 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 Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School have a religious character?

Yes — Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary 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 Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School were places offered?

The furthest place offered at Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School for 2015-16 (Reception) was 4.423 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 Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School?

When Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after / previously looked after children — Looked after or previously looked after children, i.e., a “Child in Care” means any child who is in the care of a local authority in accordance with Section 22 (1) of the Children Act 1989. A child who was “previously a Child in Care” means a child who after being Looked After became subject to an Adoption Order under Section 46 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, a Residence Order under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989 or Special Guardianship Order under Section 14A of the Children Act 1989. This category also includes Internationally Adopted Previously Looked After Children (IAPLAC); 2. Child Protection/Child in Need — Where a Child Protection Order or Child in Need document identifies that there is a need for the child to be educated in a school closest to home or in an identified particular school/setting for their own safety; 3. Medical/physical disability — Children who have a physical or medical disability where the identified school would be the only school providing specially adapted facilities to support the needs of the child or, in the case of the condition resulting in prolonged or recurring absence each year, would be best supported attending a particular school. This must be fully evidenced and supported by a community paediatrician or consultant, and 7 further criteria. The school offers 60 places at this entry point. Tie-break: If oversubscribed within any of the priority order categories above, places will be allocated on the basis of the shortest straight-line measurement using a geographical information-based system which identifies an Easting and Northing for the home address and the school building and calculates the distance between the two locations.

What is the largest ethnic background at Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 83.6% of pupils at Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School

How far did offers reach?

4.423miles

was the furthest place offered for 2015-16 (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 Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School, year by year →

How places are decided at Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary 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 / previously looked after children — Looked after or previously looked after children, i.e., a “Child in Care” means any child who is in the care of a local authority in accordance with Section 22 (1) of the Children Act 1989. A child who was “previously a Child in Care” means a child who after being Looked After became subject to an Adoption Order under Section 46 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, a Residence Order under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989 or Special Guardianship Order under Section 14A of the Children Act 1989. This category also includes Internationally Adopted Previously Looked After Children (IAPLAC).
2Child Protection/Child in Need — Where a Child Protection Order or Child in Need document identifies that there is a need for the child to be educated in a school closest to home or in an identified particular school/setting for their own safety.
3Medical/physical disability — Children who have a physical or medical disability where the identified school would be the only school providing specially adapted facilities to support the needs of the child or, in the case of the condition resulting in prolonged or recurring absence each year, would be best supported attending a particular school. This must be fully evidenced and supported by a community paediatrician or consultant.
4Catchment siblings — Children living within the school’s catchment area who will have a sibling*(s) attending the school at the time of admission.
5Children of staff — Children of staff where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made; and/or the member of staff is recruited to a vacancy to meet a demonstrable skills shortage as at the date of application. This includes stepchildren, foster children and children of co-habiting partners.
6Catchment area — Children living within the school’s catchment area.
7Out-of-catchment siblings — Children living outside the school’s catchment area who will have a sibling*(s) attending the school at the time of admission.
8Feeder schools (secondary only) — Children living outside the school’s catchment area and who were attending one of the preferred school’s recognised feeder schools during the previous year (secondary schools only).
9Faith criterion (out of catchment) — Children living outside the school’s catchment area who meet the faith criterion*** where the child is a regular practising Christian at a Recognised Church or Religious Group prior to application.
10All other children — All other children living outside the school’s catchment area.

If two applications tie: If oversubscribed within any of the priority order categories above, places will be allocated on the basis of the shortest straight-line measurement using a geographical information-based system which identifies an Easting and Northing for the home address and the school building and calculates the distance between the two locations.

Sherborne Abbey CE Primary School is listed as a feeder school for The Gryphon School (secondary) under the trust's feeder/catchment list, but this does not affect its own Reception admissions criteria.

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.