Voluntary controlled school · Dorset

The Blandford School

11–18Ages
1,103Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
113888URN

Milldown Road, Blandford Forum, DT11 7SQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Apr 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.1per place

0.5 below Dorset median (1.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Dorset

231 applications for 202 places · 13th of 13 in Dorset

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

43.2of 90

Dorset 43.2 England 46.0

10th of 18 in Dorset

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 23 April 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.1applications per place, Year 7

0.5 below Dorset median (1.6) 1.1 below England median (2.2)

231 applications · 202 places offered · 199 named it first

2026 1.1; Dorset median median 1.6
2025 1.1; Dorset median median 1.6
2024 1.2; Dorset median median 1.6
2023 1.1; Dorset median median 1.6
2022 1.2; Dorset median median 1.7
2021 1.1; Dorset median median 1.7
2020 1.1; Dorset median median 1.6
2019 1.1; Dorset median median 1.6
2018 1.1; Dorset median median 1.6
2017 1.1; Dorset median median 1.5
2016 1.1; Dorset median median 1.7
2015 1.1; Dorset median median 1.5
2014 1.1; Dorset median median 1.5

More applications per place than the Dorset median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Dorset median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	202	231	1.1	199	0.99
Sep 2025	184	205	1.1	179	0.97
Sep 2024	179	205	1.2	177	0.99
Sep 2023	240	274	1.1	233	0.97
Sep 2022	217	259	1.2	231	1.06
Sep 2021	187	207	1.1	182	0.97
Sep 2020	190	210	1.1	181	0.95
Sep 2019	207	225	1.1	200	0.97
Sep 2018	203	221	1.1	200	0.99
Sep 2017	186	202	1.1	182	0.98
Sep 2016	185	204	1.1	177	0.96
Sep 2015	167	186	1.1	164	0.98
Sep 2014	149	158	1.1	149	1.00

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

186 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.210th of 18 in Dorset

Dorset 43.2 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths37%11th of 18 in Dorset

Dorset 38% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths60%

Dorset 60% England 66%

This school
Dorset median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.33

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	186	43.2	37%	60%	–
2024/25	182	47.0	46%	66%	–
2023/24	186	46.6	48%	68%	−0.33
2022/23	170	49.2	60%	75%	−0.13

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The Blandford SchoolThis school
This school

Good2024

1.1applications per place 43.2Attainment 8
Sturminster Newton High School
12.4 km · Dorset

2026

1.7applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
Queen Elizabeth's School
13.2 km · Dorset

Requires improvement2023

44.4Attainment 8
Lockyer's Middle School
14.0 km · Dorset

Good2022
Allenbourn Middle School
14.5 km · Dorset

Graded · no overall grade2025
St Michael's Church of England Middle School, Colehill
15.4 km · Dorset

Remains Good2024
Corfe Hills School
15.4 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Good2021

44.0Attainment 8
Lytchett Minster School
15.5 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

1.6applications per place 47.9Attainment 8
Shaftesbury School
15.7 km · Dorset

Good2023

1.6applications per place 40.1Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Voluntary controlled school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 113888 · 838/4510
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,557 pupils · 1,103 on roll
Free school meals: 21.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Milldown Road, Blandford Forum, DT11 7SQ
Local authority: Dorset

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources