South West
Schools in Dorset
174 schools, 50,950 pupils. Average Attainment 8 across the authority's state secondaries is 36.6.
Ofsted across Dorset
Good84
Requires improvement14
Outstanding4
No overall grade72
102 of these schools carry a one-word grade from before September 2024, when Ofsted stopped awarding them. The remaining 72 either have no published outcome or were inspected under the current framework, which does not give an overall grade. What changed.
All schools in Dorset
Sorted by name. A gap of a point or two is noise, not a ranking — read the school pages for the intake-adjusted comparison.
| School | Area | Ofsted | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Saints Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Sherborne | Good 2023 | — |
| All Saints' Church of England AcademyAcademy sponsor led | Weymouth | Requires improvement 2023 | 35.6 |
| Allenbourn Middle SchoolAcademy converter | Wimborne | No grade | — |
| Arbour House SchoolOther independent special school | Dorset | No grade | — |
| Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Blandford Forum | Good 2023 | — |
| Atlantic Academy PortlandAcademy sponsor led | Portland | Good 2022 | 34 |
| Aurora Beeches SchoolOther independent special school | Wimborne | No grade | — |
| Beaminster SchoolVoluntary controlled school | Beaminster | Good 2023 | 47 |
| Beaminster St Mary's AcademyAcademy sponsor led | Beaminster | Good 2023 | — |
| Beaucroft Foundation SchoolFoundation special school | Wimborne | Good 2023 | — |
| Beechcroft St Paul's CofE Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Weymouth | Requires improvement 2024 | — |
| Bere Regis Primary and PreschoolAcademy sponsor led | Wareham | No grade | — |
| Bincombe Valley Primary SchoolCommunity school | Weymouth | No grade | — |
| Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Blandford Forum | No grade | — |
| Bovington AcademyAcademy sponsor led | Wareham | Good 2023 | — |
| Bridport Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Bridport | Good 2023 | — |
| Bridport, St Mary's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Bridport | Good 2024 | — |
| Broadmayne First SchoolCommunity school | Dorchester | Good 2023 | — |
| Broadwindsor Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school | Beaminster | Requires improvement 2023 | — |
| Bryanston SchoolOther independent school | Blandford Forum | No grade | — |
| Buckland Newton Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Dorchester | No grade | — |
| Budmouth Academy WeymouthAcademy sponsor led | Weymouth | Requires improvement 2024 | 42 |
| Burton Bradstock Church of England Voluntary Controlled SchoolAcademy converter | Bridport | No grade | — |
| Castle Court SchoolOther independent school | Dorset | No grade | — |
| Cerne Abbas CofE VC First SchoolVoluntary controlled school | Dorchester | Good 2023 | — |
| Charmouth Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led | Bridport | Requires improvement 2022 | — |
| Cheselbourne Village SchoolCommunity school | DORCHESTER | Good 2023 | — |
| Chickerell Primary AcademyAcademy converter | Weymouth | No grade | — |
| Clayesmore SchoolOther independent school | Blandford Forum | No grade | — |
| Coastland CollegeFurther education | Weymouth | No grade | — |
| Colehill First SchoolAcademy converter | Wimborne | Good 2023 | — |
| Conifers Primary SchoolCommunity school | Weymouth | Good 2022 | — |
| Corfe Castle Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Wareham | Good 2023 | — |
| Cranborne Church of England First SchoolAcademy converter | Wimborne | Good 2023 | — |
| Cranborne Middle SchoolCommunity school | Wimborne | No grade | — |
| Damers First SchoolAcademy converter | Dorchester | No grade | — |
| Dorchester Middle SchoolAcademy converter | Dorchester | Requires improvement 2023 | — |
| Dorset Studio SchoolStudio schools | Dorchester | Good 2024 | 34.1 |
| Downlands Community SchoolCommunity school | Blandford Forum | No grade | — |
| Dumpton SchoolOther independent school | Wimborne | No grade | — |
| Dunbury Church of England AcademyAcademy sponsor led | Winterborne Whitechurch | Good 2023 | — |
| Durweston Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Blandford Forum | No grade | — |
| Emmanuel Church of England Middle SchoolAcademy sponsor led | Verwood | Good 2022 | — |
| Ferndown First SchoolAcademy converter | Ferndown | Good 2023 | — |
| Ferndown Middle SchoolAcademy converter | Ferndown | Good 2023 | — |
| Ferndown Upper SchoolCommunity school | Ferndown | No grade | 45.7 |
| Frome Valley CofE First SchoolAcademy converter | Dorchester | No grade | — |
| Gillingham Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Gillingham | No grade | — |
| Gillingham SchoolVoluntary controlled school | Gillingham | Good 2023 | 42.7 |
| Graduately Developing FuturesOther independent special school | Dorset | No grade | — |
| Hampreston Church of England Voluntary Aided First SchoolAcademy converter | Wimborne | No grade | — |
| Hanford SchoolOther independent school | Blandford Forum | No grade | — |
| Hayeswood First SchoolAcademy converter | Wimborne | Good 2023 | — |
| Hazelbury Bryan Primary SchoolCommunity school | Sturminster Newton | Good 2023 | — |
| Henbury View First SchoolAcademy converter | Wimborne | Good 2023 | — |
| Hillside Community First SchoolAcademy converter | Verwood | Good 2023 | — |
| Holy Trinity Church of England VC Primary School & Community NurseryVoluntary controlled school | Weymouth | Good 2024 | — |
| Kingfisher SchoolOther independent special school | Weymouth | No grade | — |
| Leweston SchoolOther independent school | Sherborne | No grade | — |
| Lockyer's Middle SchoolAcademy converter | Wimborne | Good 2022 | — |
| Loders CofE Primary AcademyAcademy sponsor led | Bridport | No grade | — |
| Lulworth and Winfrith CofE Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Wareham | No grade | — |
| Lytchett Matravers Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Poole | Good 2023 | — |
| Lytchett Minster SchoolFoundation school | Poole | Good 2023 | 46.8 |
| Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school | Dorchester | Good 2024 | — |
| Manor Park Church of England First SchoolAcademy sponsor led | Dorchester | No grade | — |
| Marshwood CofE Primary AcademyAcademy converter | Bridport | Requires improvement 2024 | — |
| Milborne St Andrew First SchoolAcademy converter | Blandford Forum | Good 2023 | — |
| Milldown CofE AcademyAcademy converter | Blandford Forum | Good 2022 | — |
| Milton Abbey SchoolOther independent school | Blandford Forum | No grade | — |
| Milton-on-Stour Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Gillingham | Good 2023 | — |
| Motcombe CofE Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Shaftesbury | Good 2023 | — |
| Mountjoy SchoolCommunity special school | Beaminster | Good 2022 | — |
| Oakhurst Community First SchoolAcademy converter | Ferndown | No grade | — |
| Pamphill Church of England First SchoolAcademy sponsor led | Wimborne | Good 2023 | — |
| Parley First SchoolAcademy converter | Ferndown | Good 2023 | — |
| Parrett and Axe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school | Beaminster | Good 2022 | — |
| Piddle Valley Church of England First SchoolAcademy converter | Dorchester | Good 2023 | — |
| Pimperne Church of England VC Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Blandford Forum | No grade | — |
| Port Regis Preparatory SchoolOther independent school | Shaftesbury | No grade | — |
| Portesham Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led | Weymouth | No grade | — |
| Powerstock Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school | Bridport | Requires improvement 2024 | — |
| Puddletown Church of England First SchoolAcademy converter | Dorchester | No grade | — |
| Queen Elizabeth's SchoolAcademy converter | Wimborne | Requires improvement 2023 | 43.3 |
| Radipole Primary SchoolCommunity school | Weymouth | Good 2023 | — |
| Ringwood Waldorf SchoolOther independent school | Ringwood | No grade | — |
| Rushcombe First SchoolCommunity school | Wimborne | Outstanding 2022 | — |
| Salway Ash Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school | Bridport | Good 2023 | — |
| Sandford St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school | Wareham | Good 2022 | — |
| Shaftesbury Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Shaftesbury | Good 2022 | — |
| Shaftesbury SchoolAcademy converter | Shaftesbury | Good 2023 | 39.1 |
| Sheiling SchoolOther independent special school | Ringwood | No grade | — |
| Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Sherborne | Good 2021 | — |
| Sherborne Preparatory SchoolOther independent school | Sherborne | No grade | — |
| Sherborne Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Sherborne | No grade | — |
| Sherborne SchoolOther independent school | Sherborne | No grade | — |
| Sherborne School for GirlsOther independent school | Sherborne | No grade | — |
| Shillingstone Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Blandford Forum | Good 2023 | — |
| Sixpenny Handley First School and NurseryAcademy converter | Salisbury | Good 2023 | — |
| Southill Primary SchoolCommunity school | Weymouth | Good 2022 | — |
| Spetisbury CofE Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Blandford Forum | Good 2023 | — |
| St Andrew's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Sherborne | No grade | — |
| St Andrew's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led | Weymouth | No grade | — |
| St Andrew's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led | Shaftesbury | No grade | — |
| St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, WeymouthAcademy converter | Weymouth | Good 2024 | — |
| St Catherine's Roman Catholic SchoolAcademy converter | Bridport | No grade | — |
| St George's Church of England Primary School, Langton MatraversAcademy converter | Swanage | Good 2023 | — |
| St George's Church of England School, BourtonAcademy converter | Gillingham | No grade | — |
| St George's Foundation Primary SchoolFoundation school | Portland | No grade | — |
| St Gregory's Church of England Primary School, MarnhullAcademy sponsor led | Sturminster Newton | Requires improvement 2022 | — |
| St Ives Primary & Nursery SchoolAcademy converter | Ringwood | Outstanding 2023 | — |
| St James Church of England First SchoolAcademy converter | Wimborne | No grade | — |
| St James' Church of England First School and Nursery, AlderholtAcademy converter | Fordingbridge | Good 2023 | — |
| St John's Church of England First School, WimborneAcademy converter | Wimborne | Good 2023 | — |
| St John's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Weymouth | Good 2024 | — |
| St Mary & St Joseph's Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Wareham | Requires improvement 2024 | — |
| St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Gillingham | Good 2023 | — |
| St Mary's Catholic First School, DorchesterAcademy converter | Dorchester | Good 2023 | — |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, MarnhullAcademy converter | Sturminster Newton | Good 2023 | — |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, SwanageAcademy converter | Swanage | Good 2022 | — |
| St Mary's Church of England First School, CharminsterAcademy converter | Dorchester | No grade | — |
| St Mary's Church of England Middle School, PuddletownAcademy converter | Dorchester | No grade | — |
| St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford AbbasAcademy converter | Sherborne | No grade | — |
| St Mary's CofE First School & NurseryAcademy converter | Ferndown | No grade | — |
| St Michael's Church of England Middle School, ColehillAcademy converter | Wimborne | Good 2024 | — |
| St Michael's CofE Primary School, Lyme RegisAcademy sponsor led | Lyme Regis | Requires improvement 2022 | — |
| St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Child OkefordAcademy converter | Blandford Forum | No grade | — |
| St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Weymouth | No grade | — |
| St Osmund's Church of England Middle SchoolAcademy converter | Dorchester | Good 2022 | — |
| Stalbridge Church of England Primary SchoolFoundation school | Stalbridge | Good 2023 | — |
| Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school | Dorchester | No grade | — |
| Stoborough Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Wareham | Good 2023 | — |
| Stower Provost Community SchoolCommunity school | Gillingham | No grade | — |
| Sturminster Marshall First SchoolCommunity school | Wimborne | No grade | — |
| Sturminster Newton High SchoolAcademy converter | Sturminster Newton | No grade | 46.1 |
| Sunninghill Preparatory SchoolOther independent school | Dorchester | No grade | — |
| Swanage Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Swanage | Good 2019 | — |
| Swanage St Mark's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Swanage | Good 2024 | — |
| Symondsbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school | Bridport | No grade | — |
| The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, ShaftesburyVoluntary aided school | Shaftesbury | Good 2022 | — |
| The Blandford SchoolVoluntary controlled school | Blandford Forum | Good 2024 | 47 |
| The Forum SchoolOther independent special school | Blandford Forum | No grade | — |
| The Gryphon SchoolAcademy converter | Sherborne | Good 2023 | 46.7 |
| The Luccombe HubOther independent special school | Blandford Forum | No grade | — |
| The Prince of Wales SchoolCommunity school | Dorchester | No grade | — |
| The Purbeck SchoolAcademy converter | Wareham | No grade | 41.9 |
| The Sir John Colfox AcademyAcademy converter | Bridport | Good 2023 | 43 |
| The Swanage SchoolFree schools | Swanage | Good 2023 | 36.9 |
| The Thomas Hardye SchoolAcademy converter | Dorchester | No grade | 49.8 |
| The Woodroffe SchoolFoundation school | Lyme Regis | Good 2023 | 51.4 |
| Thorncombe, St Mary's Church of England Primary AcademyAcademy converter | Thorncombe | Requires improvement 2023 | — |
| Thorner's Church of England School, Litton CheneyVoluntary aided school | Dorchester | No grade | — |
| Thornford CofE Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Sherborne | No grade | — |
| Three Legged Cross First and Nursery SchoolAcademy converter | Wimborne | Good 2023 | — |
| Trent Young's CofE Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Sherborne | No grade | — |
| Trinity Church of England First SchoolAcademy converter | Verwood | No grade | — |
| Upton Infant SchoolAcademy converter | Poole | Good 2023 | — |
| Upton Junior SchoolAcademy converter | Poole | Good 2023 | — |
| Verwood Church of England First SchoolAcademy converter | Verwood | Good 2023 | — |
| Wareham St Mary Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter | Wareham | Good 2022 | — |
| West Moors Middle SchoolCommunity school | Ferndown | Good 2022 | — |
| Westfield Arts CollegeFoundation special school | Weymouth | Outstanding 2023 | — |
| Wey Valley AcademyAcademy converter | Weymouth | Good 2023 | 41 |
| William Barnes Primary SchoolCommunity school | Sturminster Newton | Good 2023 | — |
| Wimborne First School and NurseryAcademy converter | Wimborne | Good 2024 | — |
| Wimborne St Giles Church of England First School and NurseryAcademy converter | Wimborne | Good 2023 | — |
| Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First SchoolVoluntary aided school | Dorchester | No grade | — |
| Witchampton Church of England First SchoolAcademy converter | Wimborne | Good 2023 | — |
| Wool Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led | Wareham | Good 2023 | — |
| Wyke Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led | Gillingham | Requires improvement 2022 | — |
| Wyke Regis Church of England Junior SchoolVoluntary controlled school | Weymouth | Good 2022 | — |
| Wyke Regis Infant School and NurseryCommunity school | Weymouth | No grade | — |
| Yarrells Preparatory SchoolOther independent school | Poole | No grade | — |
| Yewstock SchoolCommunity special school | Sturminster Newton | Outstanding 2023 | — |