Shaftesbury School
Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, SP7 8EROpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Shaftesbury School is a secondary school in Shaftesbury for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. It ranks 12th of 18 secondary schools in Dorset. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 March 2023, report published 10 May 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 7 March 2023
Pupils at Shaftesbury School are encouraged to be 'the best they can be'. Pupils have positive relationships with their teachers. Staff know pupils well. They encourage pupils to think deeply about what they are learning. Pupils remember important knowledge, and many achieve well. They are encouraged to read widely and often. The school offers an impressive range of activities to develop pupils' talents and interests. Pupils enjoy attending clubs for sports, music and the arts. Trips, visits and community engagement projects are a regular feature of the school week. Sixth- form student leaders work with staff to ensure that younger pupils have a 'voice' in school improvement. Staff ensure that pupils feel safe and happy. Pupils know how to stay healthy. However, some pupils do not have a secure understanding of healthy relationships. Pupils benefit from strong pastoral care at Shaftesbury School. Pupils who are struggling, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), are well supported by pastoral staff.
What the school should improve
- Teachers do not always have accurate information to help them to support pupils with SEND. When this happens, the curriculum is not adapted effectively to enable pupils with SEND to learn as well as their peers. Consequently, some pupils with SEND do not develop a secure understanding of the subjects they study. Leaders must swiftly implement their plans to ensure that teaching enables all pupils with SEND to learn well.
- The teaching of relationships and sex education is not consistently strong for all year groups. As a result, not all pupils have a secure knowledge. Some have a weaker understanding of healthy relationships. Leaders need to ensure that pupils learn all aspects of the intended curriculum.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
138 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
61 students
Average A level grade C-, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
782 pupils on roll, with places for 1,283
Schools near Shaftesbury School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gillingham School | 4 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Clayesmore School | 5 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 28.5 |
| Sturminster Newton High School | 7 miles | Report card: Expected standard | Attainment 8: 46.1 |
| Bryanston School | 9 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 9.3 |
| The Blandford School | 10 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 47.0 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- SHERBORNE AREA SCHOOLS' TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Stephanie Bowen
- Phone
- 01747854498
- Address
- Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, SP7 8ER
- Local authority
- Dorset
- URN
- 140898
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.