Schools in Dorchester, South West (2025)
22 schools · 6,619 students · 13 academy, 8 local authority, 1 independent · median Pupils on roll 148.
Dorchester, in South West, has 22 schools in England's 2025 data, together educating about 6,619 students. By level there are 16 primary, 5 secondary, 1 all-through; by sector 13 academy, 8 local authority, 1 independent.
The median Pupils on roll across Dorchester's schools is 148, below the South West median of 207. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
19 of the 22 schools qualify for the Success Index (England). The highest-scoring is Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School (93.7, top 5% of primary schools nationally), followed by St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester (93.2, top 5% of primary schools nationally), and Broadmayne First School and Nursery (91.7, top 5% of primary schools nationally). 3 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), St Osmund's Church of England Middle School (714 students), Dorchester Middle School (527 students).
Ranked schools in Dorchester
Ordered by Success Index (England). Rank positions shown on each profile are within England and South West.
- 194Cerne Abbas CofE VC First SchoolDorchester · Local authority Primary– · 77 students
- 293St Mary's Catholic First School, DorchesterDorchester · Academy Primary– · 177 students
- 392Broadmayne First School and NurseryDorchester · Local authority Primary– · 139 students
- 484Puddletown Church of England First SchoolDorchester · Academy Primary– · 134 students
- 583St Mary's Church of England First School, CharminsterDorchester · Academy Primary– · 148 students
- 680The Prince of Wales SchoolDorchester · Local authority Primary– · 156 students
- 771Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First SchoolDorchester · Local authority Primary– · 60 students
- 868The Thomas Hardye SchoolDorchester · Academy Secondary49.8 Attainment 8 · 2,014 students
- 967Thorner's Church of England School, Litton CheneyDorchester · Local authority Primary73% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 115 students
- 1061Buckland Newton Church of England Primary SchoolDorchester · Academy Primary71% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 110 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
- 1354Damers First SchoolDorchester · Academy Primary– · 475 students
- 1452Manor Park Church of England First SchoolDorchester · Academy Primary– · 396 students
- 1552Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolDorchester · Local authority Primary53% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 70 students
- 1647Frome Valley CofE First SchoolDorchester · Academy Primary– · 141 students
- 1737Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary SchoolDorchester · Local authority Primary63% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 137 students
- 1835Dorchester Middle SchoolDorchester · Academy Secondary49% KS2 expected standard (RWM) · 527 students
- 1920Dorset Studio SchoolDorchester · Academy Secondary34.1 Attainment 8 · 332 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (England) | Key result | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School Dorchester · Primary · Ages 3–9 | Local authority | 93.7 Top 5% | – | 77 |
| 2 | St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester Dorchester · Primary · Ages 2–9 | Academy | 93.2 Top 5% | – | 177 |
| 3 | Broadmayne First School and Nursery Dorchester · Primary · Ages 2–9 | Local authority | 91.7 Top 5% | – | 139 |
| 4 | Puddletown Church of England First School Dorchester · Primary · Ages 4–9 | Academy | 84.3 Top 25% | – | 134 |
| 5 | St Mary's Church of England First School, Charminster Dorchester · Primary · Ages 4–9 | Academy | 82.8 Top 25% | – | 148 |
| 6 | The Prince of Wales School Dorchester · Primary · Ages 2–9 | Local authority | 80.1 Top 25% | – | 156 |
| 7 | Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School Dorchester · Primary · Ages 3–9 | Local authority | 70.6 Top 25% | – | 60 |
| 8 | The Thomas Hardye School Dorchester · Secondary · Ages 13–18 | Academy | 68.1 Top 50% | 49.8 Attainment 8 | 2,014 |
| 9 | Thorner's Church of England School, Litton Cheney Dorchester · Primary · Ages 2–11 | Local authority | 66.5 Top 50% | 73% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 115 |
| 10 | Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School Dorchester · Primary · Ages 2–11 | Academy | 60.5 Top 50% | 71% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 110 |
| 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 | Damers First School Dorchester · Primary · Ages 4–9 | Academy | 53.5 Top 50% | – | 475 |
| 14 | Manor Park Church of England First School Dorchester · Primary · Ages 2–9 | Academy | 52.3 Top 50% | – | 396 |
| 15 | Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Dorchester · Primary · Ages 5–11 | Local authority | 52.0 Top 50% | 53% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 70 |
| 16 | Frome Valley CofE First School Dorchester · Primary · Ages 2–9 | Academy | 47.4 Lower 50% | – | 141 |
| 17 | Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary School Dorchester · Primary · Ages 4–11 | Local authority | 37.1 Lower 50% | 63% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 137 |
| 18 | Dorchester Middle School Dorchester · Secondary · Ages 9–13 | Academy | 34.8 Lower 50% | 49% KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 527 |
| 19 | Dorset Studio School Dorchester · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 19.6 Lower 50% | 34.1 Attainment 8 | 332 |
Other schools in Dorchester
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 Dorchester side by side →
Other places in South West
- Bristol(277)
- Plymouth(98)
- Swindon(93)
- Gloucester(78)
- Exeter(67)
- Cheltenham(63)
- Salisbury(62)
- Taunton(51)
- Bath(48)
- Bournemouth(46)
- Poole(37)
- Newton Abbot(34)
- Truro(33)
- Bridgwater(33)
- Stroud(32)
- Weston-super-Mare(31)
- Chippenham(28)
- Barnstaple(27)
- Yeovil(26)
- Torquay(23)
- Trowbridge(23)
- Penzance(22)
- Wimborne(22)
- St Austell(21)
- Radstock(21)
- Helston(20)
- Tiverton(19)
- Bodmin(18)
- Devizes(18)
- Launceston(17)
- Weymouth(17)
- Cirencester(17)
- Bideford(16)
- Blandford Forum(15)
- Frome(15)
- WARMINSTER(15)
- Liskeard(14)
- Totnes(14)
- Sherborne(14)
- Christchurch(13)
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in Dorchester?
Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School is the highest-ranked school in Dorchester with a Success Index (England) of 93.7 out of 100 (Top 5% of primary schools in England).
How many schools are in Dorchester?
Dorchester has 22 schools (16 primary, 5 secondary, 1 all-through) educating 6,619 students in 2025.
What is the typical Pupils on roll in Dorchester?
The median Pupils on roll across schools in Dorchester is 148. Number of pupils in the latest school census.