Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #70 in Dorset public Top 91% UK

Downlands Community School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr James Rielly

location_onBlandford Forum, DT11 8BG

language Visit Website phone 1258453348

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

265

school

Expected Standard

42%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Downlands Community School is a Community school primary school in Blandford Forum, serving ages 3-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 91% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

Downlands Community School is a community school in Blandford Forum, Dorset, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 215 pupils on roll, of whom 6% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 42% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 4% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #70 of 78 primaries in Dorset and #13,336 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 20.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

42%

LA 54%

Reading54% LA 71%

Writing54% LA 67%

Maths65% LA 68%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

42%

LA 53%England 61%

Reading65% LA 72% · Eng 74%

Writing58% LA 66% · Eng 72%

Maths65% LA 65% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

45%

LA 53%England 60%

Reading71% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing47% LA 67% · Eng 71%

Maths68% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.4

Read

LA 0.0

-3.5 to 0.6

-3.6

Write

LA -0.8

-5.6 to -1.6

-0.7

Maths

LA -1.3

-2.6 to 1.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

55%

LA 60%England 65%

Reading70% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing73% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths64% LA 74% · Eng 79%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.0

Read

LA -0.3

-3.2 to 1.2

-2.6

Write

LA -0.5

-4.7 to -0.6

-3.1

Maths

LA -1.1

-5.0 to -1.2

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

52%

LA 58%

Reading71% LA 73%

Writing61% LA 73%

Maths68% LA 69%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.9

Read

LA -0.3

-3.2 to 1.4

-3.5

Write

LA -0.5

-5.7 to -1.3

-4

Maths

LA -1.2

-6 to -2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 June 2023

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

03 October 2017

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

09 July 2013

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

03 March 2010

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

14 February 2007

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

24 May 2004

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-06-07

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-10-03

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-07-09

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-03-03

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.9%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.9%(2 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 215 pupils. During this period, there were 2 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.9%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	215	2	0.9%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	223	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	252	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	254	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	257	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	275	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	265	1	0.4%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	259	1	0.4%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	270	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	264	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	252	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	277	2	0.7%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	253	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	250	2	0.8%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	246	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	246	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	261	1	0.4%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	241	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	241	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	252	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	245	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	250	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	258	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	249	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	238	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	243	0	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 30 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 15 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 13 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 3 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

91.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

22.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree36%

agree45%

disagree8%

strongly disagree8%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree55%

agree30%

disagree11%

don't know4%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree45%

agree25%

disagree6%

strongly disagree8%

don't know2%

not applicable15%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes21%

no79%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree55%

agree36%

disagree9%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree36%

agree42%

disagree9%

strongly disagree8%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree47%

agree40%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree45%

agree43%

disagree9%

strongly disagree2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree57%

agree32%

disagree4%

don't know8%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree55%

agree42%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree45%

agree36%

disagree11%

strongly disagree2%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes87%

no13%

Top Primary Schools in Dorset

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Bovington Academy

Good

location_on Wareham, BH20 6LE

emoji_events #1 in LA

St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Weymouth, DT3 5DQ

emoji_events #2 in LA

Conifers Primary School

Good

location_on Weymouth, DT4 0QF

emoji_events #3 in LA

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage

Good

location_on Swanage, BH19 1QE

emoji_events #4 in LA

Trent Young's CofE Primary School

Good

location_on Sherborne, DT9 4SW

emoji_events #5 in LA

St Ives Primary & Nursery School

Outstanding

location_on Ringwood, BH24 2LE

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Dorset arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Dorset

Bovington Academy

St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary School

Conifers Primary School

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage

Trent Young's CofE Primary School

St Ives Primary & Nursery School