Dunbury Church of England Academy
Dolway Lane, Blandford Forum, Winterborne Whitechurch, DT11 0AWOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Dunbury Church of England Academy is a primary school in Winterborne Whitechurch for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. It ranks 57th of 88 primary schools in Dorset. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2017.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 14 March 2017, report published 4 May 2017
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 19 January 2023
Pupils enjoy attending Dunbury Church of England Academy. They are safe and happy at this friendly, welcoming school. The values of courage, friendship, respect and trust are evident in the way pupils behave. Pupils strive to meet the high expectations that staff have of them. They are persistent with their learning and attentive to staff. In lessons, pupils are keen to learn and focus on their work. There is rarely any disruption to learning. Playtimes are calm and harmonious. Pupils enjoy playing with their friends. They are considerate of each other and respond promptly to staff instructions. Pupils know what bullying is and how to report it. They are adamant that staff stop instances of bullying quickly on the rare occasions that they happen. One parent encapsulates the view of many saying, 'Dunbury Academy is a wonderful school that nurtures and develops each pupil…'. Pupils develop their character in line with the Christian faith. Most are active citizens who take responsibility for themselves and others. Dunbury is 'one school on two sites', united by a shared vision and values. Routines, rules and expectations are consistent at both sites. Consequently, pupils move seamlessly from key stage 1 into key stage 2.
What the school should improve
- Teachers' checks on pupils' learning do not always identify errors and misunderstandings. This means that these sometimes persist or that pupils are trying to build on learning which is not accurate. Leaders need to ensure that teachers know what pupils have and have not learned.
- Some pupils do not take part in activities beyond the curriculum or take on leadership roles. This means that they are not getting as many opportunities to fully develop their skills and interests. Leaders must ensure that that all pupils gain a rich set of experiences during their time at the school.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
11 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
131 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near Dunbury Church of England Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milborne St Andrew First School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Bere Regis Primary and Preschool | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 45% met the expected standard |
| Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 67% met the expected standard |
| Cheselbourne Village School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Spetisbury CofE Primary School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 77% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- DIOCESE OF SALISBURY ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Emma Richardson
- Phone
- 01258880501
- Address
- Dolway Lane, Blandford Forum, Winterborne Whitechurch, DT11 0AW
- Local authority
- Dorset
- URN
- 140561
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.