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St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery is an academy converter primary school in Ferndown, Dorset , serving pupils aged 2-9, with 136 pupils, and a capacity of 184 places. Find catchment area guidance, admissions policy details and nearby primary schools below.

2-9

Age range

136

Pupils

184

Capacity

74%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2011

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?

The catchment area for St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery is the geographic zone Dorset uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and, in most years, faith-based criteria. Dorset publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Admission to St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery is managed by Dorset and typically includes both faith criteria and catchment area proximity. The weighting given to each criterion depends on the school's published oversubscription policy, which is reviewed annually.

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Dorset before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Dorset catchment area documents →

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery: 184 places, 74% filled: places available

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery has a published admission number of 184 places. 136 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 74%. At 74% full, the school currently has headroom below its 184 place limit. Catchment distance criteria still apply when the school is oversubscribed, but at current demand levels, places have been available for applicants outside the immediate catchment area.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 20.3% of pupils at St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Dorset.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Dorset publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Dorset Council school admissions (official) →

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery: School Information

Full address
Station Road, West Moors, Ferndown, BH22 0JF
Local authority
Dorset
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
2-9 years
Religious character
Church of England
Free school meals
20.3% of pupils
DfE URN
142514

Other Primary Schools in Ferndown

If St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Ferndown are the next closest alternatives.

Other Church of England Schools in Dorset

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery shares its religious character with these Church of England schools across Dorset. Faith criteria typically sit alongside catchment distance in each school's admissions policy.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery

What is the catchment area for St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?

The catchment area for St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery is the geographic zone Dorset uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and, in most years, faith-based criteria. Dorset publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery oversubscribed?

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery has a capacity of 184 places and currently has 136 pupils enrolled. For the most up-to-date data, check with Dorset.

What is the admissions policy for St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery uses both faith criteria and catchment area proximity in its admissions policy. The weighting is reviewed annually and published by Dorset before each admissions cycle.

What age range does St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery cover?

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery is a primary school in Ferndown, Dorset, serving pupils aged 2-9. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery?

St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery was rated Good by Ofsted in 2011. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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