Dorset secondary schools league table 2025
Secondary and all-through schools teaching Key Stages 3 and 4. Ranked by the Success Index (England) from official English data; 35 schools in Dorset, South West. Rank positions shown on each profile are within England and South West.
- 185Lockyer's Middle SchoolWimborne · Academy Secondary76% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 436 students
- 272The Woodroffe SchoolLyme Regis · Local authority Secondary51.4 Attainment 8 · 886 students
- 368The Thomas Hardye SchoolDorchester · Academy Secondary49.8 Attainment 8 · 2,014 students
- 468Allenbourn Middle SchoolWimborne · Academy Secondary68% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 499 students
- 565St Michael's Church of England Middle School, ColehillWimborne · Academy Secondary65% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 563 students
- 665Emmanuel Church of England Middle SchoolVerwood · Academy Secondary65% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 434 students
- 763The Blandford SchoolBlandford Forum · Local authority Secondary47.0 Attainment 8 · 1,103 students
- 862Lytchett Minster SchoolPoole · Local authority Secondary46.8 Attainment 8 · 1,624 students
- 961Cranborne Middle SchoolWimborne · Local authority Secondary65% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 265 students
- 1059The Gryphon SchoolSherborne · Academy Secondary46.7 Attainment 8 · 1,569 students
- 1159St Mary's Church of England Middle School, PuddletownDorchester · Academy Secondary61% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 441 students
- 1257St Osmund's Church of England Middle SchoolDorchester · Academy Secondary58% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 714 students
- 1357Ferndown Upper SchoolFerndown · Local authority Secondary45.7 Attainment 8 · 1,134 students
- 1452Beaminster SchoolBeaminster · Local authority Secondary47.0 Attainment 8 · 673 students
- 1550Sturminster Newton High SchoolSturminster Newton · Academy Secondary46.1 Attainment 8 · 605 students
- 1648Queen Elizabeth's SchoolWimborne · Academy Secondary43.3 Attainment 8 · 1,375 students
- 1741The Purbeck SchoolWareham · Academy Secondary41.9 Attainment 8 · 1,022 students
- 1841West Moors Middle SchoolFerndown · Local authority Secondary49% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 240 students
- 1941Wey Valley AcademyWeymouth · Academy Secondary41.0 Attainment 8 · 994 students
- 2039The Sir John Colfox AcademyBridport · Academy Secondary43.0 Attainment 8 · 756 students
- 2138Budmouth Academy WeymouthWeymouth · Academy Secondary42.0 Attainment 8 · 1,466 students
- 2236Atlantic Academy PortlandPortland · Academy All-through34.0 Attainment 8 · 769 students
- 2335Dorchester Middle SchoolDorchester · Academy Secondary49% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 527 students
- 2431Leweston SchoolSherborne · Independent All-through40.8 Attainment 8 · 577 students
- 2529Shaftesbury SchoolShaftesbury · Academy Secondary39.1 Attainment 8 · 782 students
- 2625All Saints' Church of England AcademyWeymouth · Academy Secondary35.6 Attainment 8 · 598 students
- 2724Ferndown Middle SchoolFerndown · Academy Secondary45% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 600 students
- 2823Sherborne School for GirlsSherborne · Independent Secondary34.3 Attainment 8 · 456 students
- 2923The Swanage SchoolSwanage · Academy Secondary36.9 Attainment 8 · 349 students
- 3020Dorset Studio SchoolDorchester · Academy Secondary34.1 Attainment 8 · 332 students
- 3120Sherborne SchoolSherborne · Independent Secondary28.5 Attainment 8 · 538 students
- 3217Bryanston SchoolBlandford Forum · Independent All-through9.3 Attainment 8 · 776 students
- 3316Clayesmore SchoolBlandford Forum · Independent All-through28.5 Attainment 8 · 414 students
- 346Milton Abbey SchoolBlandford Forum · Independent Secondary21.9 Attainment 8 · 190 students
- 353Ringwood Waldorf SchoolRingwood · Independent All-through6.6 Attainment 8 · 248 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (England) | Key result | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lockyer's Middle School Wimborne · Secondary · Ages 9–13 | Academy | 84.5 Top 25% | 76% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 436 |
| 2 | The Woodroffe School Lyme Regis · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Local authority | 72.1 Top 25% | 51.4 Attainment 8 | 886 |
| 3 | The Thomas Hardye School Dorchester · Secondary · Ages 13–18 | Academy | 68.1 Top 50% | 49.8 Attainment 8 | 2,014 |
| 4 | Allenbourn Middle School Wimborne · Secondary · Ages 9–13 | Academy | 67.5 Top 50% | 68% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 499 |
| 5 | St Michael's Church of England Middle School, Colehill Wimborne · Secondary · Ages 9–13 | Academy | 65.1 Top 50% | 65% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 563 |
| 6 | Emmanuel Church of England Middle School Verwood · Secondary · Ages 9–13 | Academy | 64.5 Top 50% | 65% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 434 |
| 7 | The Blandford School Blandford Forum · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Local authority | 62.6 Top 50% | 47.0 Attainment 8 | 1,103 |
| 8 | Lytchett Minster School Poole · Secondary · Ages 11–19 | Local authority | 62.4 Top 50% | 46.8 Attainment 8 | 1,624 |
| 9 | Cranborne Middle School Wimborne · Secondary · Ages 9–13 | Local authority | 61.3 Top 50% | 65% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 265 |
| 10 | The Gryphon School Sherborne · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Academy | 59.0 Top 50% | 46.7 Attainment 8 | 1,569 |
| 11 | St Mary's Church of England Middle School, Puddletown Dorchester · Secondary · Ages 9–13 | Academy | 58.5 Top 50% | 61% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 441 |
| 12 | St Osmund's Church of England Middle School Dorchester · Secondary · Ages 9–13 | Academy | 57.4 Top 50% | 58% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 714 |
| 13 | Ferndown Upper School Ferndown · Secondary · Ages 13–19 | Local authority | 56.5 Top 50% | 45.7 Attainment 8 | 1,134 |
| 14 | Beaminster School Beaminster · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Local authority | 52.1 Top 50% | 47.0 Attainment 8 | 673 |
| 15 | Sturminster Newton High School Sturminster Newton · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Academy | 49.9 Top 50% | 46.1 Attainment 8 | 605 |
| 16 | Queen Elizabeth's School Wimborne · Secondary · Ages 13–18 | Academy | 47.9 Top 50% | 43.3 Attainment 8 | 1,375 |
| 17 | The Purbeck School Wareham · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Academy | 41.4 Lower 50% | 41.9 Attainment 8 | 1,022 |
| 18 | West Moors Middle School Ferndown · Secondary · Ages 9–13 | Local authority | 40.8 Lower 50% | 49% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 240 |
| 19 | Wey Valley Academy Weymouth · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 40.7 Lower 50% | 41.0 Attainment 8 | 994 |
| 20 | The Sir John Colfox Academy Bridport · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Academy | 38.8 Lower 50% | 43.0 Attainment 8 | 756 |
| 21 | Budmouth Academy Weymouth Weymouth · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Academy | 38.0 Lower 50% | 42.0 Attainment 8 | 1,466 |
| 22 | Atlantic Academy Portland Portland · All-through · Ages 4–16 | Academy | 36.3 Lower 50% | 34.0 Attainment 8 | 769 |
| 23 | Dorchester Middle School Dorchester · Secondary · Ages 9–13 | Academy | 34.8 Lower 50% | 49% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 527 |
| 24 | Leweston School Sherborne · All-through · Ages 2–19 | Independent | 30.5 Lower 50% | 40.8 Attainment 8 | 577 |
| 25 | Shaftesbury School Shaftesbury · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Academy | 28.8 Lower 50% | 39.1 Attainment 8 | 782 |
| 26 | All Saints' Church of England Academy Weymouth · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 24.7 Lower 50% | 35.6 Attainment 8 | 598 |
| 27 | Ferndown Middle School Ferndown · Secondary · Ages 9–13 | Academy | 23.8 Lower 50% | 45% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 600 |
| 28 | Sherborne School for Girls Sherborne · Secondary · Ages 11–19 | Independent | 23.0 Lower 50% | 34.3 Attainment 8 | 456 |
| 29 | The Swanage School Swanage · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 22.8 Lower 50% | 36.9 Attainment 8 | 349 |
| 30 | Dorset Studio School Dorchester · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 19.6 Lower 50% | 34.1 Attainment 8 | 332 |
| 31 | Sherborne School Sherborne · Secondary · Ages 13–19 | Independent | 19.5 Lower 50% | 28.5 Attainment 8 | 538 |
| 32 | Bryanston School Blandford Forum · All-through · Ages 3–18 | Independent | 16.6 Lower 50% | 9.3 Attainment 8 | 776 |
| 33 | Clayesmore School Blandford Forum · All-through · Ages 2–19 | Independent | 15.9 Lower 50% | 28.5 Attainment 8 | 414 |
| 34 | Milton Abbey School Blandford Forum · Secondary · Ages 13–19 | Independent | 5.7 Lower 50% | 21.9 Attainment 8 | 190 |
| 35 | Ringwood Waldorf School Ringwood · All-through · Ages 2–19 | Independent | 2.8 Lower 50% | 6.6 Attainment 8 | 248 |
Lockyer's Middle School in Wimborne leads the 2025 list of secondary schools in Dorset with a Success Index (England) of 84.5. Of the 35 schools shown, 21 are academy, 7 are local authority, 7 are independent.
For the full picture see the wider South West secondary 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 secondary school in Dorset?
Lockyer's Middle School in Wimborne, South West ranks first among secondary schools in Dorset with a Success Index (England) of 84.5 out of 100 (Pupils on roll: 436).
How are secondary 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.