Downlands Community School

Primary
Local authority maintained
Ages 3 to 11

Report card: Needs attention to expected standard

Blandford Camp, Blandford Forum, DT11 8BGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Downlands Community School is a primary school in Blandford Forum for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. It ranks 79th of 88 primary schools in Dorset. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in January 2026.

Ofsted report card

Inspected 13 January 2026, report published 1 March 2026

Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.

Inclusion: Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
Achievement: Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing: Expected standard
Leadership and governance: Needs attention
Early years: Expected standard
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

26 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths42%

42%, 20 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths4%

4%, 4 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score102

102, 4 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score103

103, 2 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score104

104, 1 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

201 pupils on roll, with places for 420

Eligible for free school meals4.5%

4.5%, 22 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language36.8%

36.8%, 15.2 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support28.9%

28.9%, 14.1 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan5%

5%, 1 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Downlands Community School

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Pimperne Church of England VC Primary School	1 mile	Ofsted: Good	63% met the expected standard
Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	64% met the expected standard
Milldown CofE Academy	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	48% met the expected standard
Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School	3 miles	Ofsted: Good	67% met the expected standard
Spetisbury CofE Primary School	3 miles	Ofsted: Good	77% met the expected standard

School details

School type: Community school
Sector: Local authority maintained
Age range: 3 to 11
Gender: Mixed
Nursery classes: Yes
Headteacher: Mr James Rielly
Phone: 01258453348
Website: downlandsschool.org (opens in a new tab)
Address: Blandford Camp, Blandford Forum, DT11 8BG
Local authority: Dorset
URN: 113659

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.