Piddle Valley Church of England First School
Academy converter primary school in Dorchester (Dorset).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
Our School Welcome Welcome Trust in each other, Respect one another, Shine for yourself! Jesus said: Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5.16) At Piddle Valley CE First School, we envision a nurturing environment where every child feels valued and empowered to reach their fullest potential.
Guided by our core values of trust, respect, and the spirit to shine, we strive to create an inclusive community where learning is a joyful journey. Together, we inspire curiosity, foster creativity, and celebrate individuality, ensuring that each childs unique gifts are cherished and developed.
In partnership with families and the wider community, we are committed to cultivating a safe and stimulating space where every child can thrive, learn, and grow into confident, compassionate leaders of tomorrow.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
3 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Computing
- Music
- Forest School
Key facts
- URN
- 141804
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 2 to 9
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Nursery
- Has Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Constituency
- West Dorset
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
- Opened
- 2015
Governing body (7 current, 2 former)
iAcademy trust: local governing body and trust board.Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Hunwick | Chair of Local Governing Body | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2024 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms Julie Watts | Local Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Ms Lucy Bowtell | Local Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mr Ross Horrigan | Local Governor | Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Jemma Moore | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2024 |
| Vicki Nelson | Local Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Scott Marshall | Local Governor | Elected by parents | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Stephen Waine Former | Local Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
| Kerry Smith Former | Local Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2023 · term ended 2025 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record