Graded inspection · Mar 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 | 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 entry167 applications · 108 places offered · 95 named it first
FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.
- 2026 1.6; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2025 1.6; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2024 1.6; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2023 1.9; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2022 1.6; Dorset median median 1.7
- 2021 1.8; Dorset median median 1.7
- 2020 1.8; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2019 1.4; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2018 1.6; Dorset median median 1.6
- 2017 1.5; Dorset median median 1.5
- 2016 1.7; Dorset median median 1.7
- 2015 1.5; Dorset median median 1.5
- 2014 1.3; Dorset median median 1.5; as the previous school
- This school
- Dorset median
Dashed bars: as Shaftesbury School (URN 113889), King Alfred's Church of England Middle School (URN 113885), the previous school.
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 | 108 | 167 | 1.6 | 95 | 0.88 |
| Sep 2025 | 122 | 199 | 1.6 | 120 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2024 | 158 | 259 | 1.6 | 153 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2023 | 121 | 226 | 1.9 | 121 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2022 | 123 | 202 | 1.6 | 114 | 0.93 |
| Sep 2021 | 123 | 223 | 1.8 | 119 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2020 | 134 | 234 | 1.8 | 132 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2019 | 144 | 205 | 1.4 | 121 | 0.84 |
| Sep 2018 | 159 | 246 | 1.6 | 155 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2017 | 139 | 209 | 1.5 | 134 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2016 | 149 | 253 | 1.7 | 140 | 0.94 |
| Sep 2015 | 145 | 215 | 1.5 | 141 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2014 * | 158 | 211 | 1.3 | 143 | 0.91 |
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.) | 119 | 40.1 | 25% | 55% | – |
| 2024/25 | 138 | 39.1 | 28% | 53% | – |
| 2023/24 | 137 | 42.1 | 34% | 55% | −0.50 |
| 2022/23 | 166 | 41.5 | 30% | 60% | −0.30 |
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
- Shaftesbury SchoolThis schoolThis schoolGood20231.6applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
- 6.9 km · DorsetGood2023
- 11.1 km · Dorset20261.7applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
- 15.7 km · DorsetGood20241.1applications per place 43.2Attainment 8
- 17.6 km · SomersetGraded · no overall grade20251.4applications per place 38.8Attainment 8
- 21.0 km · DorsetSome aspects not as strong2025
- 22.3 km · WiltshireRemains Good20221.2applications per place 45.8Attainment 8
- 22.4 km · SomersetGood20231.6applications per place 47.1Attainment 8
- 23.4 km · DorsetRemains Good20231.5applications per place 47.4Attainment 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
- 140898 · 838/4511
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Capacity
- 1,283 pupils · 782 on roll
- Free school meals
- 25.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 June 2014
- Replaced
- Shaftesbury School (URN 113889); King Alfred's Church of England Middle School (URN 113885)
- Address
- Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, SP7 8ER
- Local authority
- Dorset
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources