Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School
Lenthay Road, Sherborne, DT9 6AQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School is a primary school in Sherborne for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. It ranks 3rd of 6 primary schools in Sherborne. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in June 2026.
Ofsted report card
Inspected 16 June 2026, report published 20 July 2026
Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.
- Inclusion
- Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching
- Expected standard
- Achievement
- Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour
- Expected standard
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Strong standard
- Leadership and governance
- Expected standard
- Early years
- Expected standard
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 16 June 2026
Pupils at this school thrive from a culture of high expectations and inclusivity for all. Pupils and staff say they are proud to be members of the school community. Pupils are happy and say they feel safe. They know that staff will listen to them if they have any concerns. Pupils explain how the school’s values of trust, hope, integrity and spirituality support them in how they contribute positively to school life and their community. The highly inclusive nature of the school means that pupils who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities flourish under the guidance of highly skilled staff. All pupils benefit from a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities that support their character development. Trips to the Brecon Beacons support pupils to develop an appreciation of the natural world, while being challenged in testing environmental conditions. Whereas learning to sail on the south coast of England enables pupils to learn new skills. These experiences support pupils to build resilience. Pupils behave well. Throughout the school pupils are kind and polite. Classrooms are focused learning environments. Teachers captivate pupils’ attention through well-planned lessons that build pupils’ knowledge over time. Pupils enjoy coming to school which is reflected in the high rates of attendance. Pupils build a strong sense of responsibility and seek to support their local community. For example, pupils donate to the local food bank and raise money for charities. Older pupils are proud to be role models to the younger children. Pupils also regard their teachers as role models. The majority of parents are positive about the school. They say that their children are supported by staff who bring joy and positivity to children's learning.
What the school should improve
- Leaders should continue to improve pupils’ achievement so all pupils consistently reach the standards they are capable of by the end of Year 6.
- Leaders should make sure that in the early years, children benefit from activities and resources that help them to deepen their learning.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
50 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
336 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherborne Primary School | 1 mile | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 47% met the expected standard |
| Thornford CofE Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 53% met the expected standard |
| St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford Abbas | 3 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 44% met the expected standard |
| Trent Young's CofE Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 95% met the expected standard |
| Primrose Lane Primary School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 69% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- SHERBORNE AREA SCHOOLS' TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Lisa Thompson
- Phone
- 01935812318
- Address
- Lenthay Road, Sherborne, DT9 6AQ
- Local authority
- Dorset
- URN
- 144414
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.