What did Ofsted judge St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery's quality of education to be?

Ofsted judged St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery's quality of education as Good at its inspection in April 2025, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery has 148 pupils on roll.

What ages does St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery take?

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery admits pupils aged 2 to 9.

Where is St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery located?

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery is located in Ferndown, BH22 0JF, Dorset.

How do I apply to St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery 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 CofE First School & Nursery have a religious character?

Yes — St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery 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 St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?

On offer day for 2021-22 (Reception), the furthest place offered at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery was 0.54 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 CofE First School & Nursery?

When St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Child in Care / previously Child in Care — A "Child in Care" or who was "previously a Child in Care" (see footnote 1); 2. Exceptional medical or social need — Children who the authority accepts have an exceptional medical or social need and where there is a need for a place at one specific school (see footnotes 2,3); 3. Children of staff — Children of staff with at least two years continuous service at the school or who have been recruited to a vacancy to meet a demonstrable skills shortage as at the date of application (in year) or relevant closing date under the LA co-ordinated scheme (normal year of entry) and who still intend to be employed at the school at the time of the child's admission. (see footnote 7,8), and 5 further criteria. The school offers 30 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 that identifies an Easting and Northing for the home address and the school and calculates the distance between the two locations. In the event that the LA is unable to distinguish between applications despite applying the priority categories above, lots will be drawn by an independent (of the LA) person to determine the final place(s).

What is the largest ethnic background at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 83.8% of pupils at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery: Ofsted & Catchment

How close did you need to live?

0.54miles

was the furthest place offered on offer day for 2021-22 (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 CofE First School & Nursery, year by year →

How places are decided at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery

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.

1Child in Care / previously Child in Care — A "Child in Care" or who was "previously a Child in Care" (see footnote 1)
2Exceptional medical or social need — Children who the authority accepts have an exceptional medical or social need and where there is a need for a place at one specific school (see footnotes 2,3).
3Children of staff — Children of staff with at least two years continuous service at the school or who have been recruited to a vacancy to meet a demonstrable skills shortage as at the date of application (in year) or relevant closing date under the LA co-ordinated scheme (normal year of entry) and who still intend to be employed at the school at the time of the child's admission. (see footnote 7,8)
4In catchment with sibling — Children living within the school's catchment area who will have a sibling(s) attending the school at the time of admission. (see footnote 4)
5In catchment — Children living within the school's catchment area.
6Out of catchment with sibling — Children living outside the school's catchment area who will have a sibling(s) attending the school at the time of admission. (see footnote 4,5)
7Out of catchment, denominational grounds — Children living outside the school's catchment area and whose parents wish them to attend a CE Voluntary Controlled school on denominational grounds. (see footnote 6)
8All 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 that identifies an Easting and Northing for the home address and the school and calculates the distance between the two locations. In the event that the LA is unable to distinguish between applications despite applying the priority categories above, lots will be drawn by an independent (of the LA) person to determine the final place(s).

St Mary's is designated with a religious character (Diocese of Salisbury). Document also notes multiple birth siblings may cause PAN to be exceeded.

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 CofE First School & Nursery: key facts

What did Ofsted judge St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery's quality of education to be?: Ofsted judged St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery's quality of education as Good at its inspection in April 2025, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?: St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery has 148 pupils on roll.
What ages does St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery take?: St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery admits pupils aged 2 to 9.
Where is St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery located?: St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery is located in Ferndown, BH22 0JF, Dorset.
How do I apply to St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?: St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery 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 CofE First School & Nursery have a religious character?: Yes — St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery 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 St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?: On offer day for 2021-22 (Reception), the furthest place offered at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery was 0.54 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 CofE First School & Nursery?: When St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Child in Care / previously Child in Care — A "Child in Care" or who was "previously a Child in Care" (see footnote 1); 2. Exceptional medical or social need — Children who the authority accepts have an exceptional medical or social need and where there is a need for a place at one specific school (see footnotes 2,3); 3. Children of staff — Children of staff with at least two years continuous service at the school or who have been recruited to a vacancy to meet a demonstrable skills shortage as at the date of application (in year) or relevant closing date under the LA co-ordinated scheme (normal year of entry) and who still intend to be employed at the school at the time of the child's admission. (see footnote 7,8), and 5 further criteria. The school offers 30 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 that identifies an Easting and Northing for the home address and the school and calculates the distance between the two locations. In the event that the LA is unable to distinguish between applications despite applying the priority categories above, lots will be drawn by an independent (of the LA) person to determine the final place(s).
What is the largest ethnic background at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 83.8% of pupils at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery 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?

0.54miles

Last distance offered at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery, year by year →

How places are decided at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery

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.

1Child in Care / previously Child in Care — A "Child in Care" or who was "previously a Child in Care" (see footnote 1)
2Exceptional medical or social need — Children who the authority accepts have an exceptional medical or social need and where there is a need for a place at one specific school (see footnotes 2,3).
3Children of staff — Children of staff with at least two years continuous service at the school or who have been recruited to a vacancy to meet a demonstrable skills shortage as at the date of application (in year) or relevant closing date under the LA co-ordinated scheme (normal year of entry) and who still intend to be employed at the school at the time of the child's admission. (see footnote 7,8)
4In catchment with sibling — Children living within the school's catchment area who will have a sibling(s) attending the school at the time of admission. (see footnote 4)
5In catchment — Children living within the school's catchment area.
6Out of catchment with sibling — Children living outside the school's catchment area who will have a sibling(s) attending the school at the time of admission. (see footnote 4,5)
7Out of catchment, denominational grounds — Children living outside the school's catchment area and whose parents wish them to attend a CE Voluntary Controlled school on denominational grounds. (see footnote 6)
8All other children — All other children living outside the school's catchment area.

St Mary's is designated with a religious character (Diocese of Salisbury). Document also notes multiple birth siblings may cause PAN to be exceeded.

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery: key facts

What did Ofsted judge St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery's quality of education to be?: Ofsted judged St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery's quality of education as Good at its inspection in April 2025, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?: St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery has 148 pupils on roll.
What ages does St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery take?: St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery admits pupils aged 2 to 9.
Where is St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery located?: St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery is located in Ferndown, BH22 0JF, Dorset.
How do I apply to St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?: St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery 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 CofE First School & Nursery have a religious character?: Yes — St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery 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 St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?: On offer day for 2021-22 (Reception), the furthest place offered at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery was 0.54 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 CofE First School & Nursery?: When St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Child in Care / previously Child in Care — A "Child in Care" or who was "previously a Child in Care" (see footnote 1); 2. Exceptional medical or social need — Children who the authority accepts have an exceptional medical or social need and where there is a need for a place at one specific school (see footnotes 2,3); 3. Children of staff — Children of staff with at least two years continuous service at the school or who have been recruited to a vacancy to meet a demonstrable skills shortage as at the date of application (in year) or relevant closing date under the LA co-ordinated scheme (normal year of entry) and who still intend to be employed at the school at the time of the child's admission. (see footnote 7,8), and 5 further criteria. The school offers 30 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 that identifies an Easting and Northing for the home address and the school and calculates the distance between the two locations. In the event that the LA is unable to distinguish between applications despite applying the priority categories above, lots will be drawn by an independent (of the LA) person to determine the final place(s).
What is the largest ethnic background at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 83.8% of pupils at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery 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 CofE First School & Nursery

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How places are decided at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery: key facts

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St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery: key facts

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