Sturminster Marshall & Crichel
Summary
Sturminster Marshall & Crichel (E02004247) is part of Dorset local authority (view on map). Sturminster Marshall & Crichel has an approximate population of 6,200 people, of which 15% are children 15 years old and under. It is classified as "smaller rural: nearer to a major town or city".
Sturminster Marshall & Crichel neighbours Merley, Alderholt & Sixpenny Handley, West Verwood, West Moors, Colehill, Ferndown West & Canford Bottom, Wimborne Minster, Corfe Mullen, Blandford Outer & Tarrants, Milborne, Winterborne & Okeford Fitzpaine, Bere Regis & Lytchett Matravers, and Upton & Lytchett Minster.
Headlines
- 3% of pupils belong to a minority ethnic group, placing it in the bottom 10% of all areas in England – see more.
- -999% of pupils have a first language known or believed to be other than English, placing it in the bottom 10% of all areas in England – see more.
Guidance and data sources
Local area pages are based on the middle-layer super output areas (MSOAs) distributed across the country. MSOAs comprise between 2,000 and 6,000 households and have a resident population of, generally, between 5,000 and 15,000 people. MSOAs fit within local authorities. For each area, descriptive statistics are compared with local authority and national averages. For more information about MSOAs, please visit the Office for National Statistics website.
The data displayed is sourced from:
Deprivation
Sturminster Marshall & Crichel is the 11th least deprived area in Dorset (out of 48) with 20% of children living in low-income families, compared to 29% across Dorset and 38% nationally.
State-funded pupil characteristics
Information acquired from the school census.
Free school meals
In Sturminster Marshall & Crichel, 13% of state-funded pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared to 21% in Dorset and 27% nationally.
Contents
Percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals
Table showing the percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals
| % in Sturminster Marshall & Crichel | % in Dorset | % in England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals | 13% | 21% | 27% |
| Not eligible for free school meals | 87% | 79% | 73% |
Special educational needs
In Sturminster Marshall & Crichel, 16% of pupils in state-funded settings have special educational needs (SEN), compared to 22% in Dorset, and 19% nationally.
This includes the number of pupils with an education, health and care (EHC) plan and the number of pupils with SEN support.
Contents
Percentage of pupils with special educational needs in schools
Table showing the percentage of pupils with special educational needs in schools
| % in Sturminster Marshall & Crichel | % in Dorset | % in England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No special educational needs | 84% | 78% | 81% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 12% | 16% | 14% |
| With an education, health, and care plan (EHCP) | 4% | 6% | 5% |
Ethnicity
In Sturminster Marshall & Crichel, 3% of pupils are from a minority ethnic background, compared to 8% in Dorset, and 33% nationally.
Percentages may not sum to 100%, due to small values being suppressed.
Contents
Percentage of pupils by major ethnic groups
Table
| % in Sturminster Marshall & Crichel | % in Dorset | % in England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96% | 92% | 67% |
| Asian | – | 2% | 14% |
| Black | 0% | 1% | 7% |
| Mixed | 2% | 3% | 7% |
| Other | – | 1% | 3% |
| Not known | – | 1% | 2% |
English as an additional language
The percentage of pupils in Sturminster Marshall & Crichel with English as an additional language is suppressed due to low numbers, compared with 6% in Dorset, and 22% nationally.
Numbers may not sum to 100%, due to a small number of pupils with an unclassified language.
Contents
Percentage of pupils with English as an additional language
Table
| % in Sturminster Marshall & Crichel | % in Dorset | % in England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Known or believed to be other than English | – | 6% | 22% |
| Known or believed to be English | – | 94% | 78% |
Provider information
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Registered childcare providers
Sturminster Marshall & Crichel has 6 registered childcare providers.
| Type | Number in Sturminster Marshall & Crichel |
|---|---|
| All childcare providers | 6 |
| Childminders | 0 |
| Pre-school/day nursery/out-of-school care | 6 |
There have been no inspections of childcare providers in Sturminster Marshall & Crichel since the introduction of the renewed education inspection framework in November 2025.
State-funded schools
Sturminster Marshall & Crichel has 5 state-funded schools.
| Type | Number in Sturminster Marshall & Crichel |
|---|---|
| All state-funded schools | 5 |
| Nursery schools | 0 |
| Primary and all-through schools | 4 |
| Secondary and all-through schools | 1 |
| Special schools | 0 |
| Registered alternative provision | 0 |
There have been no inspections of schools in Sturminster Marshall & Crichel since the introduction of the renewed education inspection framework in November 2025.
Data sources: