Graded inspection · Nov 2023 Previous framework
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
This schoolOther secondary schools in Dorset
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Outstanding | Good | Requires improvement | Inadequate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good | |||
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good | |||
| Personal development | Outstanding | |||
| Leadership and management | 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 entry132 applications · 62 places offered · 61 named it first
- 2026 2.1; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2025 1.6; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2024 2.0; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2023 1.9; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2022 2.0; Dorset median median 1.7
- 2021 2.1; Dorset median median 1.7
- 2020 1.8; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2019 1.5; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2018 1.8; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2017 1.3; Dorset median median 1.5
- 2016 1.8; Dorset median median 1.7
- 2015 1.4; 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 | 62 | 132 | 2.1 | 61 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2025 | 84 | 133 | 1.6 | 83 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2024 | 50 | 102 | 2.0 | 49 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2023 | 61 | 116 | 1.9 | 59 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2022 | 60 | 117 | 2.0 | 58 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2021 | 37 | 77 | 2.1 | 33 | 0.89 |
| Sep 2020 | 63 | 112 | 1.8 | 61 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2019 | 68 | 105 | 1.5 | 66 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2018 | 55 | 98 | 1.8 | 55 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2017 | 61 | 79 | 1.3 | 48 | 0.79 |
| Sep 2016 | 48 | 88 | 1.8 | 46 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2015 | 72 | 102 | 1.4 | 69 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2014 | 43 | 65 | 1.5 | 40 | 0.93 |
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.) | 59 | 43.1 | 34% | 51% | – |
| 2024/25 | 69 | 36.9 | 20% | 38% | – |
| 2023/24 | 75 | 39.5 | 27% | 49% | −0.28 |
| 2022/23 | 60 | 45.4 | 42% | 63% | −0.02 |
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 Swanage SchoolThis schoolThis schoolGood20232.1applications per place 43.1Attainment 8
- 11.7 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleRemains Good20221.7applications per place 46.7Attainment 8
- 12.6 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleRemains Good20222.7applications per place 48.1Attainment 8
- 12.7 km · DorsetImproved significantly20251.5applications per place 49.0Attainment 8
- 14.3 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleRemains Good20224.1applications per place 46.7Attainment 8
- 15.0 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleGood20243.7applications per place 44.0Attainment 8
- 15.0 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleGraded · no overall grade20251.8applications per place 67.6Attainment 8 Selective
- 15.1 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleRequires significant improvement 20261.2applications per place 35.6Attainment 8
- 15.4 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleGood20233.5applications per place 45.2Attainment 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
- Free schools
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 139376 · 838/4001
- Trust
- Education Swanage Limited
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 360 pupils · 349 on roll
- Free school meals
- 31.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 September 2013
- Address
- High Street, Swanage, BH19 2PH
- Local authority
- Dorset
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources