The Swanage School
High Street, Swanage, BH19 2PHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Swanage School is a secondary school in Swanage for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. It ranks 15th of 18 secondary schools in Dorset. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 November 2023, report published 13 December 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 7 November 2023
Pupils at The Swanage School belong to a strong community in which staff know them well. Positive relationships between staff and pupils underpin life at the school. This means that pupils have positive attitudes towards school and behave well. Bullying is extremely rare because there is a culture of tolerance and kindness. Pupils are empathetic and learn how to take responsibility for their actions. They are supportive of one another and proud of their unique school. Pupils learn from an innovative curriculum. The school ensures that pupils are prepared for their futures. Pupils undertake meaningful projects. These explore national and global challenges. The school also maintains strong links with its local community. Pupils' wider experiences are central to the school's ethos. A range of national and international trips are offered, including visits to Iceland and Switzerland, as well as a vast number of clubs and activities. Nearly all pupils take part in at least one extra- curricular club, from robotics, Formula 24 racing and astronomy, to a wide range of sports and outdoor education opportunities. Many pupils take part in the annual school musical theatre performance on a professional stage.
What the school should improve
- A few curriculum areas are in the early stages of development. As a result, the school has not yet evaluated the effectiveness of its implementation. The school must ensure that staff are fully supported to enact its plans, so that pupils learn consistently well across the curriculum.
- The school's work to support struggling readers is developing. The school does not have a clear strategy in place for diagnosing precisely what kind of support pupils need. As a result, a few pupils do not gain the phonics knowledge and language comprehension necessary to read well. The school must ensure there is a coherent plan in place, so all pupils get precisely the right support.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
69 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
349 pupils on roll, with places for 360
Schools near The Swanage School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cornerstone Academy | 7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 41.0 |
| Poole High School | 8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 51.0 |
| The Purbeck School | 8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 41.9 |
| St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole | 9 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 46.4 |
| Talbot Heath School | 9 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 61.3 |
School details
- School type
- Free schools
- Sector
- Free school
- Trust
- EDUCATION SWANAGE LIMITED
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Ms Jennifer Maraspin
- Phone
- 01929500599
- Address
- High Street, Swanage, BH19 2PH
- Local authority
- Dorset
- URN
- 139376
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.