Merley First School
Primary · Academy converter · Ages 5–9 · Wimborne, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Merley First School is a primary school in Wimborne, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole for ages 5–9 (academy converter). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Good, from the inspection on 29 November 2023. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has published a last distance offered for this school for Reception 2023 to 2024 entry.
Open on the map Unlock with a pass · £9.99
Key facts
- Address
- Oakley Straight, Merley, Wimborne, BH21 1SD
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 5–9
- Sector
- See recorded establishment type
- Council
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Pupils on roll
- 292 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 9.9% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 22.5
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Good Inspected 29 November 2023
Strengths
- “The school’s curriculum and carefully planned experiences ensure pupils grow to become respectful and thoughtful citizens.”
- “Pupils are enthusiastic about these opportunities.”
- “Pupils are kind and care for each other.”
To improve
- “Nevertheless, there are a few wider subject curriculums for pupils in Years 1 to 4 that are not as well developed.”
- “Teaching does not make effective use of assessment to plan and check what pupils must know and remember.”
- “Learning activities are sometimes unnecessarily repeated.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 19 January 2024 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Reception entry: 68 first-preference applications, 60 offers in total, 57 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 2023 to 2024, as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 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 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
- Broadstone First School 1.8 mi Good Last distance published
- Bearwood Primary and Nursery School 1.9 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- Springdale First School 2.3 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Ad Astra Infant School 2.5 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Hillbourne Primary School 2.6 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Haymoor Junior School 2.7 mi School remains Good
- Christ The King Catholic Primary School 3.0 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Elm Academy 3.0 mi Not judged Last distance published