Downlands Community School
Blandford Camp, Blandford Forum, DT11 8BG
201 pupils · 48% of 420 capacity
- Phase
- Primary
- Type
- Community school
- Ages
- 3–11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Does not apply
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Free school meals
- 4.7%
Ofsted
Expected standard (2026) — Report card — the most common grade across the inspected areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and wellbeing | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention |
| Early years | Expected standard |
| Safeguarding | Met |
Inspected 13 January 2026, published 1 March 2026. Read the full Ofsted report
England has three coexisting inspection systems — how we translate them into one signal.
Exam results
| Measure | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| Reaching the expected standard in reading, writing & maths | 42% |
| Reaching the higher standard | 4% |
“Not published (small cohort)” means the DfE suppressed the figure to protect small cohorts — it is not a zero.
Will my child get in?
Roughly one first choice per place — 0.95 first-choice applications per place (Sept 2026 entry)
| Entry | Places | 1st preferences | Total preferences | Offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 entry | 22 | 21 | 24 | 21 |
| Sept 2025 entry | 17 | 15 | 17 | 15 |
| Sept 2024 entry | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 |
| Sept 2023 entry | 21 | 21 | 24 | 21 |
| Sept 2022 entry | 37 | 37 | 39 | 37 |
| Sept 2021 entry | 28 | 28 | 30 | 28 |
| Sept 2020 entry | 17 | 17 | 22 | 17 |
| Sept 2019 entry | 29 | 27 | 32 | 29 |
First-choice demand varies year to year, and the school’s admission criteria — not demand — decide who is offered a place. Use this as a rough signal, never a prediction.
Nearby alternatives
- Pimperne Church of England VC Primary School 2.2 km · No Ofsted rating
- Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School 3.2 km · Good — confirmed 2023 · previous system
- Milldown CofE Academy 3.8 km · Good (2022) · previous system
- Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School 4.5 km · Standards maintained (2025)
- Spetisbury CofE Primary School 5.5 km · Good — confirmed 2023 · previous system
- Durweston Church of England Primary School 6.1 km · Most areas: Strong standard (2026)
Straight-line distance — not travel time, and not a catchment. Same phase, open schools only.
Data from DfE and Ofsted open data (OGL v3) — sources. School record updated 10 July 2026. Report incorrect data.