This schoolOther secondary schools in Dorset
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 21 June 2023Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
- 29 January 2014Graded inspection: 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 entry350 applications · 234 places offered · 265 named it first
FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.
- 2026 1.5; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2025 1.5; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2024 1.4; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2023 1.5; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2022 1.7; Dorset median median 1.7
- 2021 1.6; Dorset median median 1.7
- 2020 1.4; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2019 1.7; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2018 1.6; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2017 1.5; Dorset median median 1.5
- 2016 1.6; Dorset median median 1.7
- 2015 1.5; Dorset median median 1.5
- 2014 1.5; Dorset median median 1.5
- 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 | 234 | 350 | 1.5 | 265 | 1.13 |
| Sep 2025 | 232 | 354 | 1.5 | 272 | 1.17 |
| Sep 2024 | 232 | 335 | 1.4 | 235 | 1.01 |
| Sep 2023 | 231 | 355 | 1.5 | 278 | 1.20 |
| Sep 2022 | 235 | 389 | 1.7 | 284 | 1.21 |
| Sep 2021 | 238 | 375 | 1.6 | 267 | 1.12 |
| Sep 2020 | 234 | 332 | 1.4 | 244 | 1.04 |
| Sep 2019 | 235 | 396 | 1.7 | 292 | 1.24 |
| Sep 2018 | 237 | 387 | 1.6 | 284 | 1.20 |
| Sep 2017 | 238 | 361 | 1.5 | 258 | 1.08 |
| Sep 2016 | 237 | 373 | 1.6 | 265 | 1.12 |
| Sep 2015 | 236 | 359 | 1.5 | 245 | 1.04 |
| Sep 2014 | 239 | 367 | 1.5 | 256 | 1.07 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 227 | 47.4 | 45% | 70% | – |
| 2024/25 | 234 | 46.7 | 44% | 66% | – |
| 2023/24 | 239 | 48.1 | 46% | 66% | −0.06 |
| 2022/23 | 236 | 50.1 | 45% | 69% | +0.14 |
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 Gryphon SchoolThis schoolThis schoolRemains Good20231.5applications per place 47.4Attainment 8
- 7.6 km · SomersetGood20241.4applications per place 45.3Attainment 8
- 9.5 km · SomersetRemains Good20232.0applications per place 45.6Attainment 8
- 10.1 km · SomersetGood20231.9applications per place 48.3Attainment 8
- 12.5 km · SomersetGraded · no overall grade20251.4applications per place 38.8Attainment 8
- 14.9 km · SomersetGraded · no overall grade20241.4applications per place 45.9Attainment 8
- 15.1 km · Dorset20261.7applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
- 15.2 km · Somerset20261.3applications per place 44.9Attainment 8
- 16.7 km · SomersetGood20231.6applications per place 47.1Attainment 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
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 138471 · 838/4512
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Capacity
- 1,495 pupils · 1,569 on roll
- Free school meals
- 21.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
- SEN provision
- Resourced provision
- Opened
- 1 August 2012
- Replaced
- The Gryphon School (URN 113890)
- Address
- Bristol Road, Sherborne, DT9 4EQ
- Local authority
- Dorset
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources