Schools in Dorset

• 179open schools
• 120primary
• 21secondary
• 21independent
• 49,648pupils

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Latest Ofsted inspections in Dorset

How the latest inspection of each open school here was reported. Ofsted has changed how it reports several times, so these can’t be added up into one score. Why.

Overall grade given (before Sept 2024)68

Ungraded inspection41

Sub-grades, no overall grade (Sept 2024 to Nov 2025)20

Report card (from Nov 2025)26

Of the schools whose latest inspection gave an overall grade:

Outstanding2

Good53

Requires improvement7

Inadequate0

179 schools, A to Z — page 1 of 3.

• All Saints Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 4 to 11 · 130 pupils

  Giles Lane, Bishops Caundle, Sherborne, DT9 5NQ

  Ofsted 4 May 2023 (ungraded): School remains Good (predecessor school)

  Church of England

• All Saints' Church of England Academy

  Secondary · Academy sponsor led · ages 11 to 16 · 598 pupils

  Sunnyside Road, Wyke Regis, Weymouth, DT4 9BJ

  Ofsted report card, 30 Jun 2026

  Church of England

• Allenbourn Middle School

  Middle · Academy converter · ages 9 to 13 · 499 pupils

  East Borough, Wimborne, BH21 1PL

  Ofsted 14 Jan 2025: no overall grade (see grades)

• Arbour House School

  Special school · Other independent special school · ages 6 to 18 · 39 pupils

  15-17 Glendinning Avenue, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7QF

  Independent: inspected by Ofsted (not in Ofsted’s state-school data)

  Independent

• Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 0 to 11 · 411 pupils

  Black Lane, Blandford Forum, DT11 8SW

  Ofsted 25 Jan 2023 (ungraded): School remains Good

  Church of England

• Atlantic Academy Portland

  All-through · Academy sponsor led · ages 4 to 16 · 769 pupils

  Maritime House, Southwell Park, Portland, DT5 2NA

  Ofsted report card, 24 Mar 2026

• Aurora Beeches School

  Special school · Other independent special school · ages 11 to 16 · 48 pupils

  Aurora Boveridge College, Cranborne, Wimborne, BH21 5RT

  Independent: inspected by Ofsted (not in Ofsted’s state-school data)

  Independent

• Beaminster School

  Secondary · Voluntary controlled school · ages 11 to 18 · 673 pupils

  Newtown, Beaminster, DT8 3EP

  Ofsted 26 Sep 2023: Good

  Christian

• Beaminster St Mary's Academy

  Primary · Academy sponsor led · ages 4 to 11 · 140 pupils

  Clay Lane, Beaminster, DT8 3BY

  Ofsted 23 May 2023: Good

  Church of England

• Beaucroft Foundation School

  Special school · Foundation special school · ages 4 to 19 · 241 pupils

  Wimborne Road, Colehill, Wimborne, BH21 2SS

  Ofsted 21 Nov 2023: Good

• Beechcroft St Paul's CofE Primary School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 2 to 11 · 189 pupils

  Corporation Road, Weymouth, DT4 0LQ

  Ofsted 20 Feb 2024: Requires improvement

  Church of England

• Bere Regis Primary and Preschool

  Primary · Academy sponsor led · ages 2 to 11 · 119 pupils

  Southbrook, Bere Regis, Wareham, BH20 7DB

  Ofsted 24 Jun 2025: no overall grade (see grades)

• Bincombe Valley Primary School

  Primary · Community school · ages 2 to 11 · 291 pupils

  Culliford Way, Littlemoor, Weymouth, DT3 6AW

  Ofsted report card, 24 Feb 2026

• Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 2 to 11 · 208 pupils

  Birch Avenue, Blandford St Mary, Blandford Forum, DT11 9QD

  Ofsted 26 Mar 2025 (ungraded): Standards maintained

  Church of England

• Bovington Academy

  Primary · Academy sponsor led · ages 4 to 11 · 180 pupils

  Holt Road, Bovington, Wareham, BH20 6LE

  Ofsted 17 Oct 2023: Good

• Bridport Primary School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 4 to 11 · 267 pupils

  St Andrew's Road, Bridport, DT6 3BJ

  Ofsted 7 Mar 2023: Good

• Bridport, St Mary's Church of England Primary School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 4 to 11 · 194 pupils

  Skilling Hill Road, Bridport, DT6 5LA

  Ofsted 25 Jun 2024: Good

  Church of England

• Broadmayne First School and Nursery

  Primary · Community school · ages 2 to 9 · 139 pupils

  Knighton Lane, Broadmayne, Dorchester, DT2 8PH

  Ofsted 22 Mar 2023: Good

• Broadwindsor Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

  Primary · Voluntary controlled school · ages 4 to 11 · 93 pupils

  Drimpton Road, Broadwindsor, Beaminster, DT8 3QL

  Ofsted 14 Nov 2023: Requires improvement

  Church of England

• Bryanston School

  All-through · Other independent school · ages 3 to 18 · 776 pupils

  Bryanston, Blandford Forum, DT11 0PX

  Independent: inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate

  Church of England Independent

• Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 2 to 11 · 110 pupils

  Buckland Newton, Dorchester, DT2 7BY

  Ofsted report card, 10 Feb 2026

  Church of England

• Budmouth Academy Weymouth

  Secondary · Academy sponsor led · ages 11 to 18 · 1,466 pupils

  Chickerell Road, Weymouth, DT4 9SY

  Ofsted 19 Mar 2024: Requires improvement

• Burton Bradstock Church of England Voluntary Controlled School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 3 to 11 · 99 pupils

  Church Street, Burton Bradstock, Bridport, DT6 4QS

  Ofsted 10 Dec 2024 (ungraded): Standards maintained

  Church of England

• Castle Court School

  Other · Other independent school · ages 2 to 13 · 227 pupils

  Knoll Lane, Corfe Mullen, BH21 3RF

  Independent: inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate

  Christian Independent

• Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School

  Primary · Voluntary controlled school · ages 3 to 9 · 77 pupils

  Duck Street, Cerne Abbas, Dorchester, DT2 7LA

  Ofsted 12 Jul 2023: Good

  Church of England

• Charmouth Primary School

  Primary · Academy sponsor led · ages 3 to 11 · 71 pupils

  Lower Sea Lane, Charmouth, Bridport, DT6 6LR

  Ofsted report card, 30 Jun 2026

• Cheselbourne Village School

  Primary · Community school · ages 3 to 9 · 49 pupils

  Cheselbourne, Dorchester, DT2 7NT

  Ofsted 8 Mar 2023 (ungraded): School remains Good

• Chickerell Primary Academy

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 2 to 11 · 420 pupils

  Rashley Road, Chickerell, Weymouth, DT3 4AT

  Ofsted 4 Dec 2024 (ungraded): Standards maintained

• Clayesmore School

  All-through · Other independent school · ages 2 to 19 · 414 pupils

  Iwerne Minster, Blandford Forum, DT11 8LL

  Independent: inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate

  Independent

• Colehill First School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 5 to 9 · 148 pupils

  Pilford Heath Road, Colehill, Wimborne, BH21 2LZ

  Ofsted 7 Mar 2023: Good

• Conifers Primary School

  Primary · Community school · ages 4 to 11 · 324 pupils

  Radipole Lane, Weymouth, DT4 0QF

  Ofsted 2 Nov 2022: Good

• Corfe Castle Church of England Primary School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 2 to 11 · 87 pupils

  East Street, Corfe Castle, Wareham, BH20 5EE

  Ofsted 7 Nov 2023: Good

  Church of England

• Cranborne Church of England First School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 2 to 9 · 73 pupils

  Water Street, Cranborne, Wimborne, BH21 5QB

  Ofsted 12 Oct 2023: Good

  Church of England

• Cranborne Middle School

  Middle · Community school · ages 9 to 13 · 265 pupils

  Cranborne, Wimborne, BH21 5RP

  Ofsted 15 Jan 2025 (ungraded): Some aspects not as strong

• Damers First School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 4 to 9 · 475 pupils

  Liscombe Street, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3DF

  Ofsted 12 Feb 2025 (ungraded): Standards maintained

• Dorchester Learning Centre

  Alternative provision · Pupil referral unit · ages 5 to 18 · 54 pupils

  Monkton Park, Winterborne Monkton, Dorchester, DT2 9PS

  Ofsted 25 May 2022: Good

• Dorchester Middle School

  Middle · Academy converter · ages 9 to 13 · 527 pupils

  Queen's Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2HS

  Ofsted report card, 2 Jun 2026

• Dorset Studio School

  Secondary · Studio schools · ages 11 to 16 · 332 pupils

  Kingston Maurward, Dorchester, DT2 8PX

  Ofsted 5 Mar 2024: Good

• Downlands Community School

  Primary · Community school · ages 3 to 11 · 201 pupils

  Blandford Camp, Blandford Forum, DT11 8BG

  Ofsted report card, 13 Jan 2026

• Dumpton School

  Other · Other independent school · ages 2 to 13 · 338 pupils

  Deans Grove House, Deans Grove, Wimborne, BH21 7AF

  Independent: inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate

  Independent

• Dunbury Church of England Academy

  Primary · Academy sponsor led · ages 2 to 11 · 131 pupils

  Dolway Lane, Blandford Forum, Winterborne Whitechurch, DT11 0AW

  Ofsted 19 Jan 2023 (ungraded): School remains Good

  Church of England

• Durweston Church of England Primary School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 2 to 11 · 144 pupils

  Durweston, Blandford Forum, DT11 0QA

  Ofsted report card, 10 Feb 2026

  Church of England

• Emmanuel Church of England Middle School

  Middle · Academy sponsor led · ages 9 to 13 · 434 pupils

  Howe Lane, Verwood, BH31 6JF

  Ofsted 4 May 2022: Good

  Church of England

• Ferndown First School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 4 to 9 · 348 pupils

  Mountbatten Drive, Ferndown, BH22 9FB

  Ofsted 10 Nov 2023 (ungraded): School remains Good

• Ferndown Middle School

  Middle · Academy converter · ages 9 to 13 · 600 pupils

  Peter Grant Way, Ferndown, BH22 9UP

  Ofsted 21 Jun 2023 (ungraded): School remains Good

• Ferndown Upper School

  Secondary · Community school · ages 13 to 19 · 1,134 pupils

  Cherry Grove, Ferndown, BH22 9EY

  Ofsted report card, 3 Mar 2026

• Frome Valley CofE First School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 2 to 9 · 141 pupils

  School Drive, Crossways, Dorchester, DT2 8WR

  Ofsted 14 Jan 2025: no overall grade (see grades)

  Church of England

• Gillingham Primary School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 4 to 11 · 233 pupils

  School Road, Gillingham, SP8 4QR

  Ofsted report card, 6 Jan 2026

• Gillingham School

  Secondary · Academy converter · ages 11 to 18

  Hardings Lane, Gillingham, SP8 4QP

  Ofsted 10 May 2023: Good (predecessor school)

• Graduately Developing Futures

  Special school · Other independent special school · ages 6 to 14 · 23 pupils

  Valley View Farm, Castle Farm Road, Lytchett Matravers, Dorset, BH16 6DA

  Independent: inspected by Ofsted (not in Ofsted’s state-school data)

  Independent

• Hampreston Church of England Voluntary Aided First School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 5 to 9 · 134 pupils

  Hampreston Village, Wimborne, BH21 7LX

  No inspection in this data yet

  Church of England

• Hanford School

  Other · Other independent school · ages 7 to 13 · Girls · 69 pupils

  Child Okeford, Blandford Forum, DT11 8HN

  Independent: inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate

  Independent

• Harbour School Dorset

  Special school · Free schools special · ages 10 to 19 · 145 pupils

  School Road, Bovington, BH20 6NU

  Ofsted 10 Oct 2023: Good

• Harbour Vale School

  Alternative provision · Academy alternative provision sponsor led · ages 5 to 16 · 23 pupils

  Simons Road, Sherborne, DT9 4DN

  Ofsted 30 Apr 2024: Good

• Hayeswood First School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 5 to 9 · 148 pupils

  Cutlers Place, Colehill, Wimborne, BH21 2HN

  Ofsted 21 Nov 2023: Good

• Hazelbury Bryan Primary School

  Primary · Community school · ages 2 to 11 · 114 pupils

  Droop, Hazelbury Bryan Primary School, Sturminster Newton, DT10 2ED

  Ofsted 13 Jun 2023: Good

• Henbury View First School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 5 to 9 · 148 pupils

  Hillside Road, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, BH21 3TR

  Ofsted 29 Nov 2023: Good

• Hillside Community First School

  Primary · Academy converter · ages 4 to 9 · 221 pupils

  Hillside Road, Verwood, BH31 7HE

  Ofsted 11 May 2023 (ungraded): School remains Good

• Holy Trinity Church of England VC Primary School & Community Nursery

  Primary · Voluntary controlled school · ages 2 to 11 · 471 pupils

  Cross Road, Weymouth, DT4 9QX

  Ofsted 12 Mar 2024: Good

  Church of England

• Kingfisher School

  Special school · Other independent special school · ages 6 to 16 · 21 pupils

  Trimar House, Cromwell Road, Weymouth, DT4 0JH

  Independent: inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate

  Independent

Towns in Dorset

• Beaminster (5)
• Blandford Forum (18)
• Bridport (11)
• Dorchester (23)
• Ferndown (7)
• Gillingham (7)
• Lyme Regis (3)
• Shaftesbury (9)
• Sherborne (15)
• Sturminster Newton (6)
• Swanage (5)
• Verwood (4)
• Wareham (10)
• Weymouth (21)
• Wimborne (24)

Source: Get Information about Schools and Ofsted (Open Government Licence v3.0). Towns are as written in each school’s official address.