Sherborne Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Sherborne, Dorset, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 39 of its 304 pupils (12.8%) were getting SEN support and 9 (3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 304 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Dorset.
12.8% get SEN support
39 of 304 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3% have an EHC plan
9 of 304 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication19
- Social, emotional and mental health14
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 304 (places for 330)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Felicity Griffiths
- Part of
- Sherborne Area Schools' Trust
- Free school meals
- 18.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Dorset
- School reference (URN)
- 144417
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Dorset council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Report card, January 2026: Expected standard in 5 of 7 areas
Inspected in January 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Early yearsExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, October 2021).
Contact and getting there
Harbour Way, Sherborne, DT9 4AJ
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- The Gryphon School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Fiveways Special School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 4.5 miles
- Fairmead School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 4.9 miles
- Oaklands Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 5.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 11.3%, EHC plans 4.5% 1.2 miles
- Milborne Port Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 15.4%, EHC plans 0.6% 2.5 miles
- Trent Young's CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 9.1%, EHC plans 0% 3.0 miles
Questions about Sherborne Primary School
How many pupils at Sherborne Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 39 of the 304 pupils (12.8%) were getting SEN support and 9 (3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Sherborne Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (19 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (14 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (7 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Sherborne Primary School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Sherborne Primary School?
Through Dorset council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Sherborne Primary School?
You can ask for Sherborne Primary School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Sherborne Primary School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is The Gryphon School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Sherborne Primary School?
Harbour Way, Sherborne, DT9 4AJ, in Dorset.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.