Merley First School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Merley First School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 19 May 2025, 13 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Merley First School, Oakley Straight, Poole, BH21 1SB
How it compares in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
That puts Merley First School among the 2,582 places in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole holding top marks, 88% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,582 | 88% | ← Merley First School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 239 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 87 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 567 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Merley First School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Merley First School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debi Day Care Before & After School Club Caring Premises | 259 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 April 2025 |
| Down in The Woods Pre-School Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2019 |
| Cobham Sports & Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
| Cross Fire Cooking Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
| Caterplus @ McCarthy & Stone Old Market Gardens Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2026 |
| Coach and Horses Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2026 |
| Canford School School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2024 |
| BP Minster Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 September 2024 |
Questions about Merley First School
What is Merley First School's food hygiene rating?
Merley First School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on 19 May 2025.
Is Merley First School safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Merley First School last inspected?
Merley First School was last inspected on 19 May 2025, 13 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Merley First School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Merley First School compare to other places in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
88% of the 2,942 rated food businesses in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole hold the top rating of 5, and Merley First School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council inspects Merley First School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Merley First School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Merley First School is one of 987 rated food businesses in Poole. See every hygiene rating in Poole →
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole inspects and rates 3,509 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →