Dorset independent schools league table 2025
Fee-paying schools, scored only where they publish results in the performance tables. Ranked by the Success Index (England) from official English data; 7 schools in Dorset, South West. Rank positions shown on each profile are within England and South West.
- 131Leweston SchoolSherborne · Independent All-through40.8 Attainment 8 · 577 students
- 223Sherborne School for GirlsSherborne · Independent Secondary34.3 Attainment 8 · 456 students
- 320Sherborne SchoolSherborne · Independent Secondary28.5 Attainment 8 · 538 students
- 417Bryanston SchoolBlandford Forum · Independent All-through9.3 Attainment 8 · 776 students
- 516Clayesmore SchoolBlandford Forum · Independent All-through28.5 Attainment 8 · 414 students
- 66Milton Abbey SchoolBlandford Forum · Independent Secondary21.9 Attainment 8 · 190 students
- 73Ringwood Waldorf SchoolRingwood · Independent All-through6.6 Attainment 8 · 248 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (England) | Key result | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leweston School Sherborne · All-through · Ages 2–19 | Independent | 30.5 Lower 50% | 40.8 Attainment 8 | 577 |
| 2 | Sherborne School for Girls Sherborne · Secondary · Ages 11–19 | Independent | 23.0 Lower 50% | 34.3 Attainment 8 | 456 |
| 3 | Sherborne School Sherborne · Secondary · Ages 13–19 | Independent | 19.5 Lower 50% | 28.5 Attainment 8 | 538 |
| 4 | Bryanston School Blandford Forum · All-through · Ages 3–18 | Independent | 16.6 Lower 50% | 9.3 Attainment 8 | 776 |
| 5 | Clayesmore School Blandford Forum · All-through · Ages 2–19 | Independent | 15.9 Lower 50% | 28.5 Attainment 8 | 414 |
| 6 | Milton Abbey School Blandford Forum · Secondary · Ages 13–19 | Independent | 5.7 Lower 50% | 21.9 Attainment 8 | 190 |
| 7 | Ringwood Waldorf School Ringwood · All-through · Ages 2–19 | Independent | 2.8 Lower 50% | 6.6 Attainment 8 | 248 |
Leweston School in Sherborne leads the 2025 list of independent schools in Dorset with a Success Index (England) of 30.5. Of the 7 schools shown, 7 are independent.
For the full picture see the wider South West independent schools league table, every school on the Dorset page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best independent school in Dorset?
Leweston School in Sherborne, South West ranks first among independent schools in Dorset with a Success Index (England) of 30.5 out of 100 (Pupils on roll: 577).
How are independent schools in Dorset ranked?
Each school's Success Index (England) combines 9 factors: ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (35%), ks2: higher standard (20%), ks2: reading progress (10%), ks2: maths progress (10%), progress 8 (20%), attainment 8 (30%), grade 5+ in english & maths (15%), a level points per entry (10%), community advantage (fewer pupils on free school meals) (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across England. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.
Are these 2025 rankings official?
No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official English data (DfE – Get Information About Schools; DfE – Compare school and college performance). Independent schools rarely appear in the performance tables, so most receive no attainment components and no score.