Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 29 Nov 2023
Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 141794.
Pupils at the January school census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Total pupils | 292 |
| Girls | 142 |
| Boys | 150 |
| Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals. | 9.9% |
| First language not English | 1.4% |
| School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery. | 300 |
| Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken. | 2.7% |
| SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school. | 34 |
| EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs. | 3 |
| Average class size | 28.9 |
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 22.5 |
| Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants. | 14.8 |
| Teachers (FTE) | 13 |
| Teaching assistants (FTE) | 6.73 |
| Support staff (FTE) | 9.85 |
| Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25 | 14.2 |
| Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/25 | 12.8 |
| Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/25 | 1 |
| Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/25 | 0.4 |
Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.
Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Offers made (Reception)Places offered on national offer day. | 60 |
| Applications (Reception)Includes every preference parents listed. | 118 |
| First preference applications (Reception)Families who put this school as their first choice. | 68 |
| First preference offers (Reception)First-choice applicants who were offered a place. | 57 |
| Applications from another local authority (Reception) | 8 |
Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.
Share of possible sessions missed.
| Measure | This school | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall absence | 3.1%, better than England | - | 5.1% |
| Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions. | 5%, better than England | - | 13.2% |
| Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions. | 0%, better than England | - | 1% |
Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Suspension rate | 3.5% |
| Pupils with one or more suspensions | 2.1% |
| Permanent exclusion rate | 0% |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 |
Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.
Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.
| Distance | Phase | Name | Type | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 mi | Not applicable | Canford School | Other independent school | Unrated Unrated. | |
| 1.0 mi | Primary | St John's Church of England First School, Wimborne | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 24 Jan 2023. | |
| 1.3 mi | Middle deemed secondary | Allenbourn Middle School | Academy converter | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 14 Jan 2025. | |
| 1.4 mi | Primary | Wimborne First School and Nursery | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 2 Jul 2024. | |
| 1.6 mi | Middle deemed secondary | Broadstone Middle School | Academy sponsor led | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 4 Dec 2019. | |
| 1.7 mi | Middle deemed secondary | St Michael's Church of England Middle School, Colehill | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 31 Jan 2018. | |
| 1.7 mi | Primary | Hayeswood First School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 21 Nov 2023. | |
| 1.8 mi | Primary | Broadstone First School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 12 Sept 2023. | |
| 1.8 mi | Secondary | Corfe Hills School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 14 Sept 2021. | |
| 1.9 mi | Primary | Colehill First School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 7 Mar 2023. |
Merley First School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 29 Nov 2023.
For Reception entry in 2026/27, Merley First School made 60 offers from 118 applications (2 per offer), and 57 of 68 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.
Merley First School has 292 pupils aged 5 to 9.
Merley First School had 300 school places in 2024/25.
At Merley First School, the average class had 28.9 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 22.5 pupils per teacher.
In 2025/26, pupils at Merley First School missed 3.1% of sessions (England 5.1%), and 5% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 13.2%).
Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.