Parrett and Axe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Fairoak Way, Mosterton, Beaminster, DT8 3JQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Parrett and Axe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is a primary school in Beaminster for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. It ranks 14th of 88 primary schools in Dorset. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2011.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 8 February 2011, report published 7 March 2011
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 30 June 2022
Pupils feel safe and well cared for in this community-minded, inclusive school. The values of 'courage, respect, kindness and equality' run through everything the school does. Pupils show high levels of respect toward each other and to staff. They say that adults notice if something is wrong and take the time to find out why. Staff and governors want pupils to leave Parrett and Axe as confident and well-rounded individuals, ready for secondary school and beyond. They have been successful. Staff bring the curriculum to life through trips and inviting visitors to the school. This makes pupils curious to find things out. Pupils are polite and well-mannered. They behave sensibly. Pupils know what adults expect of them. Whether in lessons or at play, they adhere to the 'good to be green' rules. Bullying is rare. Staff are quick to sort out any minor issues that arise. Leaders promote pupils' personal development effectively. Staff offer bespoke support for any pupils experiencing worries. They use scenarios, such as responding to moral dilemmas, to help pupils make informed choices. Older pupils learn to be responsible by reading to younger pupils. They are also proud of being sports ambassadors and house captains.
What the school should improve
- In some wider curriculum subjects, leaders have not identified with sufficient precision the most important knowledge that pupils need to learn and remember over time. This hampers pupils' ability to make connections with what they have already learned and can do. Leaders need to ensure that staff know the most essential knowledge that pupils need to learn across the curriculum.
- Leaders do not have effective systems to assess how well pupils learn the intended curriculum in some subjects. As a result, pupils recall of prior learning is patchy. Leaders need to strengthen existing systems, so they have a deeper understanding of impact the curriculum is having on pupils' learning over time.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
21 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
132 pupils on roll, with places for 140
Schools near Parrett and Axe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadwindsor Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | 60% met the expected standard |
| Beaminster St Mary's Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 75% met the expected standard |
| Maiden Beech Academy | 3 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Not published |
| St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 64% met the expected standard |
| Perrott Hill School Limited | 3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Simon Smith
- Phone
- 01308868492
- Address
- Fairoak Way, Mosterton, Beaminster, DT8 3JQ
- Local authority
- Dorset
- URN
- 113807
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.