Academy · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Merley First School
- Primary
- Ages 5–9
Term dates
Academies can set their own term dates. Many follow Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council's dates, shown below as a guide, but check with the school, especially for INSET days.
2026/27
2027/28
Admissions
Places for Reception and junior school are applied for through your home council, not the school.
Apply for a primary school place on GOV.UK
How places are given: there's no entrance test. When there are more applicants than places, places usually go by criteria such as siblings, distance or catchment area. Check the council's or school's admissions policy for the exact rules.
How many families applied: Reception
For September 2026, 68 families put this school as their first choice, and 60 places were offered. 57 of the families who put it first got a place (84%). More families put it first than there were places.
| Entry | Places offered | Put it first | Got their first choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 60 | 68 | 84% |
| September 2025 | 59 | 76 | 76% |
| September 2024 | 55 | 53 | 100% |
Offers made on national offer day, from the Department for Education. Waiting lists and appeals can change things later. The hardest schools to get into.
Before and after school
These clubs are registered with Ofsted at the school's postcode, so usually run on the school site:
- 360 Merley First. Ofsted report
- Outdoor Adventurers. Ofsted report
Ask the club or the school about times, prices and places. More clubs nearby.
Ofsted inspection
Latest graded inspection, 29 November 2023. Overall: Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years
- Outstanding
From Ofsted's published inspection data (Open Government Licence). Report cards and older grades use different scales, so they can't be compared directly.
About and location
- Type
- Academy
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 5–9
- Pupils
- 292 (capacity 300)
- Gender
- Mixed
- Academy trust
- INITIO LEARNING TRUST
- Phone
- 01202888455
- Address
- Oakley Straight, Merley, Wimborne, BH21 1SD
- Website
- merleyfirstschool.com
School details from the Department for Education's register of schools (Open Government Licence). Report a correction.