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Schools in Dorset, South West (2025)

162 schools · 48,282 students · 111 academy, 37 local authority, 14 independent · median Pupils on roll 189.

Dorset, in South West, has 162 schools in England's 2025 data, together educating about 48,282 students. By level there are 120 primary, 31 secondary, 11 all-through; by sector 111 academy, 37 local authority, 14 independent.

The median Pupils on roll across Dorset's schools is 189, below the South West median of 207. Number of pupils in the latest school census.

143 of the 162 schools qualify for the Success Index (England). The highest-scoring is St James Church of England First School (95.9, top 5% of primary schools nationally), followed by Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School (93.7, top 5% of primary schools nationally), and St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester (93.2, top 5% of primary schools nationally). 11 schools sit in the top 10% of England for their type. Scores are percentiles within school type, so compare a primary school with other primary schools.

The largest schools are The Thomas Hardye School (2,014 students), Lytchett Minster School (1,624 students), The Gryphon School (1,569 students). 3 schools are single-sex.

Schools are spread across 25 towns, with the most in Dorchester (21), Wimborne (20), Weymouth (17), Blandford Forum (15).

Best primary schools in DorsetBest secondary schools in DorsetBest state schools in DorsetBest academies & free schools in DorsetBest independent schools in DorsetSecondary Schools by Attainment 8 in DorsetPrimary Schools by KS2 Results in DorsetSixth Forms by A Level Results in Dorset

Top 60 schools in Dorset

Ordered by Success Index (England). Rank positions shown on each profile are within England and South West. The remaining 83 ranked schools are listed below the table.

  1. 1
    96
    St James Church of England First SchoolWimborne · Academy Primary– · 134 students
  2. 2
    94
    Cerne Abbas CofE VC First SchoolDorchester · Local authority Primary– · 77 students
  3. 3
    93
    St Mary's Catholic First School, DorchesterDorchester · Academy Primary– · 177 students
  4. 4
    92
    St James' Church of England First School and Nursery, AlderholtFordingbridge · Academy Primary– · 125 students
  5. 5
    92
    Broadmayne First School and NurseryDorchester · Local authority Primary– · 139 students
  6. 6
    91
    St Ives Primary & Nursery SchoolRingwood · Academy Primary90% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 245 students
  7. 7
    89
    Rushcombe First SchoolWimborne · Local authority Primary– · 313 students
  8. 8
    89
    Hayeswood First SchoolWimborne · Academy Primary– · 148 students
  9. 9
    88
    Sixpenny Handley First School and NurserySalisbury · Academy Primary– · 73 students
  10. 10
    87
    Trent Young's CofE Primary SchoolSherborne · Academy Primary95% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 143 students
  11. 11
    85
    Henbury View First SchoolWimborne · Academy Primary– · 148 students
  12. 12
    85
    Lockyer's Middle SchoolWimborne · Academy Secondary76% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 436 students
  13. 13
    84
    Pamphill Church of England First SchoolWimborne · Academy Primary– · 67 students
  14. 14
    84
    Puddletown Church of England First SchoolDorchester · Academy Primary– · 134 students
  15. 15
    83
    Colehill First SchoolWimborne · Academy Primary– · 148 students
  16. 16
    83
    St Mary's Church of England First School, CharminsterDorchester · Academy Primary– · 148 students
  17. 17
    82
    Wimborne St Giles Church of England First School and NurseryWimborne · Academy Primary– · 70 students
  18. 18
    80
    Spetisbury CofE Primary SchoolBlandford Forum · Academy Primary77% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 187 students
  19. 19
    80
    The Prince of Wales SchoolDorchester · Local authority Primary– · 156 students
  20. 20
    76
    Parley First SchoolFerndown · Academy Primary– · 313 students
  21. 21
    75
    Hampreston Church of England Voluntary Aided First SchoolWimborne · Academy Primary– · 134 students
  22. 22
    74
    Verwood Church of England First SchoolVerwood · Academy Primary– · 289 students
  23. 23
    73
    Trinity Church of England First SchoolVerwood · Academy Primary– · 128 students
  24. 24
    72
    The Woodroffe SchoolLyme Regis · Local authority Secondary51.4 Attainment 8 · 886 students
  25. 25
    72
    Wimborne First School and NurseryWimborne · Academy Primary– · 400 students
  26. 26
    71
    Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First SchoolDorchester · Local authority Primary– · 60 students
  27. 27
    69
    Burton Bradstock Church of England Voluntary Controlled SchoolBridport · Academy Primary64% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 99 students
  28. 28
    68
    Lytchett Matravers Primary SchoolPoole · Academy Primary68% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 484 students
  29. 29
    68
    The Thomas Hardye SchoolDorchester · Academy Secondary49.8 Attainment 8 · 2,014 students
  30. 30
    68
    Parrett and Axe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolBeaminster · Local authority Primary71% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 132 students
  31. 31
    68
    Symondsbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolBridport · Local authority Primary67% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 107 students
  32. 32
    68
    Allenbourn Middle SchoolWimborne · Academy Secondary68% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 499 students
  33. 33
    67
    Thorner's Church of England School, Litton CheneyDorchester · Local authority Primary73% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 115 students
  34. 34
    66
    Motcombe CofE Primary SchoolShaftesbury · Academy Primary68% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 146 students
  35. 35
    66
    St George's Church of England Primary School, Langton MatraversSwanage · Academy Primary67% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 85 students
  36. 36
    65
    St Michael's Church of England Middle School, ColehillWimborne · Academy Secondary65% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 563 students
  37. 37
    65
    Durweston Church of England Primary SchoolBlandford Forum · Academy Primary80% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 144 students
  38. 38
    65
    Emmanuel Church of England Middle SchoolVerwood · Academy Secondary65% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 434 students
  39. 39
    63
    Hillside Community First SchoolVerwood · Academy Primary– · 221 students
  40. 40
    63
    The Blandford SchoolBlandford Forum · Local authority Secondary47.0 Attainment 8 · 1,103 students
  41. 41
    62
    Lytchett Minster SchoolPoole · Local authority Secondary46.8 Attainment 8 · 1,624 students
  42. 42
    62
    Stoborough Church of England Primary SchoolWareham · Academy Primary56% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 195 students
  43. 43
    61
    Cranborne Middle SchoolWimborne · Local authority Secondary65% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 265 students
  44. 44
    61
    St Mary's CofE First School & NurseryFerndown · Academy Primary– · 148 students
  45. 45
    61
    Cranborne Church of England First SchoolWimborne · Academy Primary– · 73 students
  46. 46
    61
    Buckland Newton Church of England Primary SchoolDorchester · Academy Primary71% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 110 students
  47. 47
    60
    Bovington AcademyWareham · Academy Primary71% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 180 students
  48. 48
    59
    The Gryphon SchoolSherborne · Academy Secondary46.7 Attainment 8 · 1,569 students
  49. 49
    59
    St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary SchoolWeymouth · Academy Primary67% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 213 students
  50. 50
    59
    Wyke Primary SchoolGillingham · Academy Primary71% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 161 students
  51. 51
    59
    Shillingstone Church of England Primary SchoolBlandford Forum · Academy Primary67% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 103 students
  52. 52
    59
    St Mary's Church of England Middle School, PuddletownDorchester · Academy Secondary61% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 441 students
  53. 53
    58
    Pimperne Church of England VC Primary SchoolBlandford Forum · Academy Primary63% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 183 students
  54. 54
    58
    St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary SchoolGillingham · Academy Primary59% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 242 students
  55. 55
    57
    St Andrew's Church of England Primary SchoolShaftesbury · Academy Primary– · 101 students
  56. 56
    57
    St Osmund's Church of England Middle SchoolDorchester · Academy Secondary58% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 714 students
  57. 57
    57
    Ferndown Upper SchoolFerndown · Local authority Secondary45.7 Attainment 8 · 1,134 students
  58. 58
    55
    Ferndown First SchoolFerndown · Academy Primary– · 348 students
  59. 59
    55
    Salway Ash Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolBridport · Local authority Primary60% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 109 students
  60. 60
    54
    Stalbridge Church of England Primary SchoolStalbridge · Local authority Primary65% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 188 students

More ranked schools in Dorset

Ranked 61 to 143 by Success Index (England).

  1. 61.Three Legged Cross First and Nursery School54.0
  2. 62.Damers First School53.5
  3. 63.Upton Infant School53.5
  4. 64.Manor Park Church of England First School52.3
  5. 65.Beaminster School52.1
  6. 66.Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School52.0
  7. 67.Hazelbury Bryan Primary School51.9
  8. 68.Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School50.6
  9. 69.Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School50.1
  10. 70.Sturminster Newton High School49.9
  11. 71.Oakhurst Community First School49.6
  12. 72.Charmouth Primary School48.0
  13. 73.Holy Trinity Church of England VC Primary School & Community Nursery47.9
  14. 74.Queen Elizabeth's School47.9
  15. 75.Beaminster St Mary's Academy47.8
  16. 76.Corfe Castle Church of England Primary School47.6
  17. 77.Radipole Primary School47.6
  18. 78.Frome Valley CofE First School47.4
  19. 79.Conifers Primary School46.6
  20. 80.All Saints Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School46.3
  21. 81.St John's Church of England First School, Wimborne46.3
  22. 82.St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull46.3
  23. 83.The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury45.8
  24. 84.Thornford CofE Primary School45.1
  25. 85.Wyke Regis Infant School and Nursery44.5
  26. 86.Wyke Regis Church of England Junior School43.4
  27. 87.Bridport Primary School42.4
  28. 88.The Purbeck School41.4
  29. 89.Beechcroft St Paul's CofE Primary School41.1
  30. 90.St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage41.0
  31. 91.William Barnes Primary School40.9
  32. 92.West Moors Middle School40.8
  33. 93.Wey Valley Academy40.7
  34. 94.Loders CofE Primary Academy40.1
  35. 95.Dunbury Church of England Academy39.5
  36. 96.The Sir John Colfox Academy38.8
  37. 97.Budmouth Academy Weymouth38.0
  38. 98.Sandford St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School38.0
  39. 99.Broadwindsor Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School37.6
  40. 100.Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary School37.1
  41. 101.Atlantic Academy Portland36.3
  42. 102.Gillingham Primary School35.4
  43. 103.Downlands Community School35.1
  44. 104.Dorchester Middle School34.8
  45. 105.Bridport, St Mary's Church of England Primary School33.9
  46. 106.St George's Church of England School, Bourton33.1
  47. 107.Milton-on-Stour Church of England Primary School33.0
  48. 108.Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School32.7
  49. 109.St Andrew's Church of England Primary School32.7
  50. 110.Sherborne Primary School31.8
  51. 111.Bincombe Valley Primary School31.6
  52. 112.Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School30.9
  53. 113.Leweston School30.5
  54. 114.Shaftesbury School28.8
  55. 115.Swanage Primary School28.4
  56. 116.St John's Church of England Primary School27.8
  57. 117.Chickerell Primary Academy27.4
  58. 118.Southill Primary School27.4
  59. 119.Swanage St Mark's Church of England Primary School27.3
  60. 120.Lulworth and Winfrith CofE Primary School26.9
  61. 121.St Andrew's Church of England Primary School26.8
  62. 122.St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford Abbas25.9
  63. 123.Milldown CofE Academy25.7
  64. 124.All Saints' Church of England Academy24.7
  65. 125.St George's Foundation Primary School24.6
  66. 126.St Mary & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School24.5
  67. 127.Wool Church of England Primary School24.4
  68. 128.Ferndown Middle School23.8
  69. 129.Sherborne School for Girls23.0
  70. 130.The Swanage School22.8
  71. 131.St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Child Okeford22.4
  72. 132.Stower Provost Community School22.1
  73. 133.Upton Junior School21.8
  74. 134.St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, Weymouth20.1
  75. 135.Bere Regis Primary and Preschool19.9
  76. 136.Dorset Studio School19.6
  77. 137.Sherborne School19.5
  78. 138.Wareham St Mary Church of England Primary School17.7
  79. 139.Bryanston School16.6
  80. 140.Clayesmore School15.9
  81. 141.St Catherine's Roman Catholic School14.7
  82. 142.Milton Abbey School5.7
  83. 143.Ringwood Waldorf School2.8

Other schools in Dorset

Schools without a rank: fewer than 60 students, no published Pupils on roll, or a school type that is not scored.

Compare the top 4 schools in Dorset side by side →

Towns in Dorset

Other places in South West

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best school in Dorset?

St James Church of England First School is the highest-ranked school in Dorset with a Success Index (England) of 95.9 out of 100 (Top 5% of primary schools in England).

How many schools are in Dorset?

Dorset has 162 schools (120 primary, 31 secondary, 11 all-through) educating 48,282 students in 2025.

What is the typical Pupils on roll in Dorset?

The median Pupils on roll across schools in Dorset is 189. Number of pupils in the latest school census.