Shillingstone Church of England Primary School vs William Barnes Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in South West, England, 5.6 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Shillingstone Church of England Primary School
Blandford Forum · Academy primary · Ages 4–11
103 students
William Barnes Primary School
Sturminster Newton · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
162 students
| Measure | Shillingstone Church of England Primary School Blandford Forum, South West | William Barnes Primary School Sturminster Newton, South West |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 59 Top 50% | 41 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #647 of 1,695 | #1083 of 1,695 |
| National rank | #6120 of 15,697 | #9964 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Academy | Local authority |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 4–11 | Ages 4–11 |
| Students | 103 | 162 |
| Pupils on roll | 103 | 162 |
| Free school meals | 26.2% | 25.3% |
| Capacity filled | 98.1% | 77.1% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 67% | 55% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | 13% | 10% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | – | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | – | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | – | – |
| EBacc average points | – | – |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Blandford Forum | Sturminster Newton |
| region | South West | South West |
| Website | www.shillingstone.dorset.sch.uk | www.williambarnes.dorset.sch.uk/ |
The verdict
- •Shillingstone Church of England Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (England) (58.7 vs 40.9).
- •Shillingstone Church of England Primary School does better on ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (67% vs 55%).
- •Shillingstone Church of England Primary School does better on ks2: higher standard (13% vs 10%).
- •William Barnes Primary School is the larger school with 162 students compared with 103.
- •Shillingstone Church of England Primary School is a academy school while William Barnes Primary School is a local authority school, so fees and admission rules differ.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Shillingstone Church of England Primary School better than William Barnes Primary School?
On the Success Index (England), Shillingstone Church of England Primary School ranks higher (58.7 vs 40.9 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Shillingstone Church of England Primary School and William Barnes Primary School?
About 5.6 km in a straight line, between Blandford Forum and Sturminster Newton in South West.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Shillingstone Church of England Primary School: 103. William Barnes Primary School: 162. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Shillingstone Church of England Primary School and William Barnes Primary School rank in South West?
Shillingstone Church of England Primary School is 647th of 1,695 and William Barnes Primary School is 1083rd of 1,695 among primary schools in South West on the 2025 Success Index (England).