Symondsbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Symondsbury, Bridport, DT6 6HDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Symondsbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is a primary school in Bridport for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. It ranks 1st of 10 primary schools in Bridport. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 May 2025, report published 23 June 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 7 May 2025
Starting the day with energetic dancing, pupils are eager to come to school. The school encourages pupils to change the world through small actions. Pupils embrace this and independently act, such as planning charity events or caring for the environment. The school has high expectations for pupils, both for their achievement and their conduct. Pupils achieve well. They enthuse about their learning. In lessons, they engage thoughtfully and are curious. For example, pupils learn a traditional medieval song to sing in their music lesson. They explore the lyrics with engrossment. Pupils lead and take responsibility for others. They act as a community, showing consideration to one another across the age groups. Trained peer mentors help pupils if they are managing friendship difficulties. Older pupils are caring in their attitudes towards younger children. The school provides pupils with exceptional experiences beyond the curriculum. Pupils learn from experts. For example, pupils work with professional musicians to learn about and perform operatic pieces. They spoke with human rights lawyers to develop their knowledge about the indigenous people of the Amazon to perform 'Yanomamo.' These experiences broaden pupils' horizons. It shapes their world views and inspires them to champion and celebrate cultures different from their own.
What the school should improve
- The curriculum for teaching pupils to write is newly implemented. The opportunities for pupils to practise their writing and rehearse the skills they have learnt are not built upon across the wider curriculum. The school should make sure the expectations for writing are extended across the breadth of the curriculum.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
12 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
107 pupils on roll, with places for 112
Schools near Symondsbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridport, St Mary's Church of England Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 52% met the expected standard |
| St Catherine's Roman Catholic School | 1 mile | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 30% met the expected standard |
| Bridport Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 50% met the expected standard |
| Salway Ash Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 60% met the expected standard |
| Loders CofE Primary Academy | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 50% met the expected standard |
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 Nick Harris
- Phone
- 01308423502
- Address
- Symondsbury, Bridport, DT6 6HD
- Local authority
- Dorset
- URN
- 113815
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.