Verwood Church of England First School
Howe Lane, Verwood, BH31 6JFOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Verwood Church of England First School is a primary school in Verwood for ages 2 to 9. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 26 September 2023, report published 8 November 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 26 September 2023
Pupils learn well at this school. The ambition for every pupil to succeed has been the trust's vision through a period of significant change. The school has recently made the expectations of pupils' behaviour and attitudes to their learning clearer. As a result, pupils know the rules, rewards and consequences. In most cases, pupils behave well and meet these high expectations. Children in the early years already know the daily routines. They follow instructions and listen well. Sometimes, pupils do not produce the work they are capable of. The new expectations are beginning to address this across the curriculum. Pupils feel safe. Relationships are strong between adults and pupils. This means that pupils trust adults if they have a problem. Pupils like the 'kindness monsters' which are available in each base. They use them to share any worries, and know that adults will help them to resolve them. Pupils learn how to be good citizens through experiences such as recycling and tree planting. The eco-committee members were particularly proud of their Green Flag award. Pupils understand that people are different. They say that everyone is unique and treated equally. Pupils live out this belief in this inclusive school.
What the school should improve
- The curriculum is not always implemented as the school expects. Pupils learn less well when this is the case. The school needs to develop teaching so that pupils learn well across the curriculum.
- The school does not always have an accurate evaluation of the impact of the curriculum on pupils' learning, including those with SEND. Therefore, it does not have the information to drive improvements. The school needs to ensure it has a precise understanding of strengths and weaknesses so that pupils know more and remember more across the curriculum.
Pupil numbers and mix
289 pupils on roll, with places for 330
Schools near Verwood Church of England First School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmanuel Church of England Middle School | 0.1 miles | Ofsted: Good | 65% met the expected standard |
| Hillside Community First School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Trinity Church of England First School | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Not published |
| Three Legged Cross First and Nursery School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- INITIO LEARNING TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 9
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Annie Nesbitt
- Phone
- 01202822652
- Address
- Howe Lane, Verwood, BH31 6JF
- Local authority
- Dorset
- URN
- 146720
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.