Best Secondary Schools in Dorset

We checked all 27 secondary schools in Dorset and list every one: 18 ranked, then 9 without a rank.

Schools checked
27
Ranked
18
Without a rank
9

Ranks combine 2024/25 GCSE results, worth 60% of each school's score, with the latest Ofsted outcome, worth 40%, as how we rank schools sets out. Rank 1 is the highest score across Dorset, and each school's town is shown. Schools with the same score share a rank. Schools without published results or an Ofsted outcome follow the ranked schools, in name order.

Dorset also has 135 primary schools, ranked on SATs results and Ofsted. Every school in the area is also listed with the other schools in Dorset. Dorset also has rankings for Weymouth.

Ranked secondary schools in Dorset

  1. 1

    The Woodroffe School

    Lyme Regis, Local authority maintained, 886 pupils, inspected December 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    51.4
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    54.9%

  2. 2

    The Thomas Hardye School

    Dorchester, Academy, 2,014 pupils, inspected February 2025

    Ofsted judgements: Good
    Attainment 8
    49.8
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    49.9%

  3. 3

    Ferndown Upper School

    Ferndown, Local authority maintained, 1,134 pupils, inspected March 2026

    Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
    Attainment 8
    45.7
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    45.4%

  4. 4

    Lytchett Minster School

    Poole, Local authority maintained, 1,624 pupils, inspected June 2013

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    46.8
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    47.4%

  5. 5

    Sturminster Newton High School

    Sturminster Newton, Academy, 605 pupils, inspected April 2026

    Report card: Expected standard
    Attainment 8
    46.1
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    49%

  6. 6

    The Blandford School

    Blandford Forum, Local authority maintained, 1,103 pupils, inspected April 2024

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    47.0
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    46.2%

  7. 7

    Beaminster School

    Beaminster, Local authority maintained, 673 pupils, inspected September 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    47.0
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    43.6%

  8. 7

    The Gryphon School

    Sherborne, Academy, 1,569 pupils, inspected January 2014

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    46.7
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    44.4%

  9. 9

    Wey Valley Academy

    Weymouth, Academy, 994 pupils, inspected October 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    41.0
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    48.5%

  10. 10

    The Sir John Colfox Academy

    Bridport, Academy, 756 pupils, inspected February 2018

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    43.0
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    34.3%

  11. 11

    The Purbeck School

    Wareham, Academy, 1,022 pupils, inspected December 2014

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    41.9
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    36.6%

  12. 12

    Shaftesbury School

    Shaftesbury, Academy, 782 pupils, inspected March 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    39.1
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    27.5%

  13. 13

    Budmouth Academy Weymouth

    Weymouth, Academy, 1,466 pupils, inspected March 2024

    Ofsted: Requires improvement
    Attainment 8
    42.0
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    40.3%

  14. 14

    Queen Elizabeth's School

    Wimborne, Academy, 1,375 pupils, inspected October 2023

    Ofsted: Requires improvement
    Attainment 8
    43.3
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    37.5%

  15. 15

    The Swanage School

    Swanage, Free school, 349 pupils, inspected November 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    36.9
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    20.3%

  16. 16

    Dorset Studio School

    Dorchester, Free school, 332 pupils, inspected March 2024

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    34.1
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    14.5%

  17. 17

    All Saints' Church of England Academy

    Weymouth, Academy, 598 pupils, inspected November 2023

    Ofsted: Requires improvement
    Attainment 8
    35.6
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    33.3%

  18. 18

    Atlantic Academy Portland

    Portland, Academy, 769 pupils, inspected March 2026

    Report card: Needs attention to expected standard
    Attainment 8
    34.0
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    19.2%

Secondary schools in Dorset without a rank

  • Bryanston School

    Blandford Forum, Independent, Selective, 776 pupils

    No Ofsted inspection
    Attainment 8
    9.3
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    0%

  • Clayesmore School

    Blandford Forum, Independent, 414 pupils

    No Ofsted inspection
    Attainment 8
    28.5
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    0%

  • Gillingham School

    Gillingham, Academy

    No Ofsted inspection

  • Leweston School

    Sherborne, Independent, 577 pupils

    No Ofsted inspection
    Attainment 8
    40.8
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    0%

  • Milton Abbey School

    Blandford Forum, Independent, 190 pupils

    No Ofsted inspection
    Attainment 8
    21.9
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    0%

  • Ringwood Waldorf School

    Ringwood, Independent, 248 pupils, inspected May 2025

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    6.6
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    0%

  • Sherborne Preparatory School

    Sherborne, Independent, 204 pupils

    No Ofsted inspection

  • Sherborne School

    Sherborne, Independent, Selective, 538 pupils

    No Ofsted inspection
    Attainment 8
    28.5
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    0%

  • Sherborne School for Girls

    Sherborne, Independent, Selective, 456 pupils

    No Ofsted inspection
    Attainment 8
    34.3
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    0%