Sixpenny Handley First School and Nursery
Common Road, Sixpenny Handley, Salisbury, SP5 5NJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Sixpenny Handley First School and Nursery is a primary school in Salisbury for ages 2 to 9. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2014.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 12 November 2014, report published 2 December 2014
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 26 April 2023
Pupils, staff and parents are proud of their happy and inclusive school. Supportive relationships with adults help pupils to feel safe. Pupils learn how to treat others with kindness and tolerance. They say that their school community 'accepts and helps everyone'. Pupils have positive attitudes to learning. Lessons interest pupils and they work hard. Staff have established clear routines and high expectations of behaviour. Pupils respond well. They understand the school rules and enjoy earning rewards for good behaviour. Breaktimes are sociable occasions where pupils enjoy a range of activities. Bullying is rare, and pupils are confident that adults will resolve any concerns they have swiftly. Leaders want the best for every pupil. They have designed a broad and interesting curriculum to meet the needs of pupils at Sixpenny Handley. In most subjects, pupils learn well. Staff ensure the curriculum broadens pupils' horizons and develops their interests. All pupils learn a musical instrument. They enjoy taking part in golf lessons, residential visits and sports tournaments. Pupils make a positive contribution to school life and the wider community. They are eager to take on the various leadership responsibilities on offer. These include roles as 'Rights Respecting', eco and sports ambassadors.
What the school should improve
- In a small number of wider curriculum subjects, leaders have not identified precisely enough what pupils need to know and remember in order to achieve their curriculum goals. As a result, pupils do not learn as well as they could. Leaders need to ensure that the curriculum sets out the knowledge pupils should learn across all subjects.
- Some older pupils who struggle with reading do not receive the precise support they need. Books do not contain the sounds pupils have learned. As a result, pupils do not practise their phonic knowledge effectively. This hinders their reading fluency and confidence. Leaders need to make sure that weaker readers receive well-planned phonics teaching so that they catch up quickly.
Pupil numbers and mix
73 pupils on roll, with places for 125
Schools near Sixpenny Handley First School and Nursery
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandroyd School | 3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Wimborne St Giles Church of England First School and Nursery | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Cranborne Middle School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 65% met the expected standard |
| Cranborne Church of England First School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Broad Chalke CofE Primary School | 6 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 59% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- THE HEATH ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 9
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Laura Stone
- Phone
- 01725552356
- Address
- Common Road, Sixpenny Handley, Salisbury, SP5 5NJ
- Local authority
- Dorset
- URN
- 142503
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.