How many pupils attend St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?

St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester has 177 pupils on roll.

What ages does St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester take?

St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester admits pupils aged 2 to 9.

Where is St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester located?

St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester is located in Dorchester, DT1 2DD, Dorset.

How do I apply to St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?

St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester 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 St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester have a religious character?

Yes — St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester has a religious character of Roman Catholic. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.

How close do you need to live to get into St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?

On offer day for 2026-27 (Reception), the furthest place offered at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester was 1.471 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 St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?

When St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Catholic looked after / previously looked after children — Priority will be given to Catholic looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Other Catholic children — Priority will next be given to other Catholic children; 3. Other looked after / previously looked after children — Priority will next be given to other looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted, and 8 further criteria. The school offers 30 places at this entry point. Ties are settled by a) straight-line distance from home to school and then, b) where distances are equal (within 2 metres) an electronic list randomiser will be used.

What is the largest ethnic background at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 76.3% of pupils at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester: Catchment 2026

How close did you need to live?

1.471miles

was the furthest place offered on offer day for 2026-27 (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 St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester, year by year →

How places are decided at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester

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.

1Catholic looked after / previously looked after children — Priority will be given to Catholic looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Other Catholic children — Priority will next be given to other Catholic children.
3Other looked after / previously looked after children — Priority will next be given to other looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
4Exceptional social or medical need — Priority will next be given to children who have an exceptional social or medical need which means they should attend this school rather than any other (or whose parents have such a need).
5Catechumens and Eastern Christian Church members — Priority will next be given to Catechumens and members of an Eastern Christian Church.
6Siblings — Priority will next be given to children who are siblings of pupils on roll at this school.
7Other Christian denominations — Priority will next be given to children who are members of other Christian denominations, who regularly attend a Christian church.
8Catchment area — Priority will next be given to children living within 2 miles of the school.
9Children of staff — Priority will next be given to children of members of staff who have been employed at this school for more than two years or recruited within the past two years to fill a vacancy for which there was a skills shortage.
10Nursery attendance — Priority will next be given to children attending the St Mary's School Nursery at the time of the application.
11Any other children — Priority will next be given to other children.

If two applications tie: a) straight-line distance from home to school and then, b) where distances are equal (within 2 metres) an electronic list randomiser will be used.

Admission authority is Plymouth CAST Multi-Academy Trust. Catchment area = priority for children living within 2 miles of school. Admission arrangements apply to all Plymouth CAST academies collectively but this document is specific to St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester.

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.

St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester: key facts

How many pupils attend St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?: St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester has 177 pupils on roll.
What ages does St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester take?: St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester admits pupils aged 2 to 9.
Where is St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester located?: St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester is located in Dorchester, DT1 2DD, Dorset.
How do I apply to St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?: St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester 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 St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester have a religious character?: Yes — St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester has a religious character of Roman Catholic. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.
How close do you need to live to get into St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?: On offer day for 2026-27 (Reception), the furthest place offered at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester was 1.471 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 St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?: When St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Catholic looked after / previously looked after children — Priority will be given to Catholic looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Other Catholic children — Priority will next be given to other Catholic children; 3. Other looked after / previously looked after children — Priority will next be given to other looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted, and 8 further criteria. The school offers 30 places at this entry point. Ties are settled by a) straight-line distance from home to school and then, b) where distances are equal (within 2 metres) an electronic list randomiser will be used.
What is the largest ethnic background at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 76.3% of pupils at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How close did you need to live?

1.471miles

Last distance offered at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester, year by year →

How places are decided at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester

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.

1Catholic looked after / previously looked after children — Priority will be given to Catholic looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Other Catholic children — Priority will next be given to other Catholic children.
3Other looked after / previously looked after children — Priority will next be given to other looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
4Exceptional social or medical need — Priority will next be given to children who have an exceptional social or medical need which means they should attend this school rather than any other (or whose parents have such a need).
5Catechumens and Eastern Christian Church members — Priority will next be given to Catechumens and members of an Eastern Christian Church.
6Siblings — Priority will next be given to children who are siblings of pupils on roll at this school.
7Other Christian denominations — Priority will next be given to children who are members of other Christian denominations, who regularly attend a Christian church.
8Catchment area — Priority will next be given to children living within 2 miles of the school.
9Children of staff — Priority will next be given to children of members of staff who have been employed at this school for more than two years or recruited within the past two years to fill a vacancy for which there was a skills shortage.
10Nursery attendance — Priority will next be given to children attending the St Mary's School Nursery at the time of the application.
11Any other children — Priority will next be given to other children.

If two applications tie: a) straight-line distance from home to school and then, b) where distances are equal (within 2 metres) an electronic list randomiser will be used.

St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester: key facts

How many pupils attend St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?: St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester has 177 pupils on roll.
What ages does St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester take?: St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester admits pupils aged 2 to 9.
Where is St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester located?: St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester is located in Dorchester, DT1 2DD, Dorset.
How do I apply to St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?: St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester 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 St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester have a religious character?: Yes — St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester has a religious character of Roman Catholic. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.
How close do you need to live to get into St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?: On offer day for 2026-27 (Reception), the furthest place offered at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester was 1.471 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 St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?: When St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Catholic looked after / previously looked after children — Priority will be given to Catholic looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Other Catholic children — Priority will next be given to other Catholic children; 3. Other looked after / previously looked after children — Priority will next be given to other looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted, and 8 further criteria. The school offers 30 places at this entry point. Ties are settled by a) straight-line distance from home to school and then, b) where distances are equal (within 2 metres) an electronic list randomiser will be used.
What is the largest ethnic background at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 76.3% of pupils at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester

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How places are decided at St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester

St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester: key facts

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St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester: key facts

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