Damers First School
Liscombe Street, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3DFOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Damers First School is a primary school in Dorchester for ages 4 to 9. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in October 2017.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 3 October 2017, report published 2 November 2017
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 11 February 2025
The Damers way of being, 'brave, unique, caring and kind', is the heartbeat of this inclusive school. Pupils know how this vision, alongside the school values, makes the school a happy place to be. Pupils enjoy coming to Damers and this is reflected in their high attendance. Staff build warm relationships with pupils so that they feel well looked after and confident that staff will help if they have any worries or concerns. The school has designed a broad and ambitious curriculum. Staff have high expectations of what they want pupils to learn to prepare them well for their next stage. Pupils rise to these expectations and learn the curriculum successfully. They behave well and show respect towards others. They are enthusiastic about their learning and want to be successful. This starts in the early years where children are proud to share what they know about the world around them. The school has carefully considered the wider curriculum for pupils. For example, a focus on sustainability and community is woven through the curriculum design. Pupils are proud of the difference they make both in school and beyond. For example, when learning about the rainforest, pupils wear green to raise awareness of the impact of deforestation.
What the school should improve
- On some occasions, the checks the school makes on how well some pupils are learning the curriculum do not accurately identify where these pupils need further support. As a result, they are not securing important knowledge and so they are less prepared for future learning. The trust must ensure that staff have the skills and expertise to identify pupils' gaps in knowledge and adjust future learning so that it helps these pupils to learn the curriculum well.
- Some pupils with SEND do not consistently benefit from precise support in learning plans to ensure that learning is adapted well enough. When this is the case, these pupils progress less well through the curriculum. The trust needs to continue strengthening the expertise of staff so that pupils with SEND gain from all the support they need to build their knowledge securely.
Pupil numbers and mix
475 pupils on roll, with places for 600
Schools near Damers First School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester Middle School | 0.8 miles | Report card: Needs attention to strong standard | 49% met the expected standard |
| The Prince of Wales School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Not published |
| St Mary's Church of England First School, Charminster | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Sunninghill Preparatory School | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- WESSEX MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 9
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Louise Greenham
- Phone
- 01305264924
- Address
- Liscombe Street, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3DF
- Local authority
- Dorset
- URN
- 147559
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.