Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School
Primary · Voluntary controlled school · Ages 3–9 · Dorchester, Dorset
Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School is a primary school in Dorchester, Dorset for ages 3–9 (voluntary controlled school). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Good, from the inspection on 12 July 2023. Dorset has published a last distance offered for this school for Reception 2022 entry.
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Key facts
- Address
- Duck Street, Cerne Abbas, Dorchester, DT2 7LA
- Type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 3–9
- Sector
- See recorded establishment type
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Council
- Dorset
- Pupils on roll
- 77 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 5.2% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 18.6
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Good Inspected 12 July 2023
Strengths
- “Pupils at Cerne Abbas First school are happy and safe.”
- “They enjoy coming to school and most have high attendance.”
- “Parents speak of the ‘warm, friendly and approachable’ staff and atmosphere.”
To improve
- “However, pupils’ written work is not always of high quality.”
- “It does not show well what pupils know and can do.”
- “However, sometimes the activities that pupils complete do not deepen their understanding sufficiently.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 26 September 2023 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Reception entry: 16 first-preference applications, 16 offers in total, 16 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Last distance offered and catchment
A one-off £9.99 pass, no subscription, unlocks for 3 months:
- Last distance offered for Reception 2022, as Dorset published it, drawn on the map
- The council’s catchment or priority area for this school on the map
- Earlier years of applications and offers
- Crime, sold prices, broadband and transport around the school
A last distance offered describes one past year and is not a catchment or a promise of a place. Check with the council before you apply.
Nearby primary schools
Straight-line distance, in Dorset.
- Piddle Valley Church of England First School 2.9 mi Good Last distance published
- Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School 3.1 mi No Ofsted grade
- Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary School 4.8 mi Good Last distance published
- St Mary's Church of England First School, Charminster 5.4 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 5.8 mi Not judged
- Cheselbourne Village School 6.0 mi School remains Good
- Damers First School 6.5 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- Hazelbury Bryan Primary School 7.0 mi Good Last distance published