St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School
Pheasant Way, Gillingham, SP8 4GGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School is a primary school in Gillingham for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. It ranks 17th of 88 primary schools in Dorset. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in October 2017.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 10 October 2017, report published 9 November 2017
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 2 February 2023
Pupils enjoy coming to this school because learning is exciting. They are ambitious and like to be challenged. The school's 'Great 8' attitudes to learning help pupils to know how to learn well. Pupils respond well to adults' high expectations. They listen respectfully to each other, making positive contributions to discussions. On the rare occasion that adults' expectations are not high enough, some pupils do not listen carefully, which affects their learning. Children in the early years follow routines well. They develop their ability to think critically and become independent. Pupils in leadership roles are proud of the part they played in developing the new behaviour policy. Rewards and sanctions are clear to pupils. Pupils are committed to helping one another behave well through encouragement and inclusion. Bullying is rare. Any inappropriate language or unkindness are followed up by staff quickly and appropriately. Pupils develop a keen sense of local and global citizenship. They understand how their contributions to society can have a positive impact on others. For example, they enjoy singing to residents in a local care home at Christmas. They are passionate about their work to improve the life chances of two children in other countries through sponsoring their education.
What the school should improve
- In a few places, the implementation of the curriculum is too variable. As a result, pupils do not learn as well. Leaders need to ensure that the curriculum is implemented securely and consistently across the school, so that pupils learn more and remember more.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
29 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
242 pupils on roll, with places for 244
Schools near St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gillingham Primary School | 0.8 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 50% met the expected standard |
| Wyke Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Requires improvement | 71% met the expected standard |
| Motcombe CofE Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 68% met the expected standard |
| Port Regis Preparatory School | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Milton-on-Stour Church of England Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 39% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- SHERBORNE AREA SCHOOLS' TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Matthew Barge
- Phone
- 01747824446
- Address
- Pheasant Way, Gillingham, SP8 4GG
- Local authority
- Dorset
- URN
- 147145
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.