Academy converter · Dorset

Sturminster Newton High School

11–18Ages
605Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
149657URN

Bath Road, Bath Road, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1DT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Apr 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.7per place

close to Dorset median (1.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Dorset

157 applications for 93 places · 5th of 13 in Dorset

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

41.4of 90

Dorset 43.2 England 46.0

12th of 18 in Dorset

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 21 April 2026Published 8 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Expected standard
Inclusion		Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching		Expected standard
Achievement		Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour		Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing		Expected standard
Early years	Does not apply to this school
Post-16 provision		Expected standard
Leadership and governance		Expected standard

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

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

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

1.7applications per place, Year 7

close to Dorset median (1.6) 0.5 below England median (2.2)

157 applications · 93 places offered · 89 named it first

2026 1.7; Dorset median median 1.6
2025 1.8; Dorset median median 1.6
2024 1.9; Dorset median median 1.6
2023 1.9; Dorset median median 1.6; as the previous school
2022 1.7; Dorset median median 1.7; as the previous school
2021 1.7; Dorset median median 1.7; as the previous school
2020 1.6; Dorset median median 1.6; as the previous school
2019 1.6; Dorset median median 1.6; as the previous school
2018 1.4; Dorset median median 1.6; as the previous school
2017 1.5; Dorset median median 1.5; as the previous school
2016 1.6; Dorset median median 1.7; as the previous school
2015 1.5; Dorset median median 1.5; as the previous school
2014 1.5; Dorset median median 1.5; as the previous school

This school
Dorset median

Dashed bars: as Sturminster Newton High School (URN 113875), 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	93	157	1.7	89	0.96
Sep 2025	103	187	1.8	101	0.98
Sep 2024	105	202	1.9	102	0.97
Sep 2023 *	111	214	1.9	107	0.96
Sep 2022 *	93	158	1.7	80	0.86
Sep 2021 *	85	148	1.7	77	0.91
Sep 2020 *	99	161	1.6	95	0.96
Sep 2019 *	98	160	1.6	91	0.93
Sep 2018 *	115	161	1.4	107	0.93
Sep 2017 *	93	137	1.5	89	0.96
Sep 2016 *	126	199	1.6	121	0.96
Sep 2015 *	107	161	1.5	103	0.96
Sep 2014 *	94	138	1.5	85	0.90

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

100 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)41.412th of 18 in Dorset

Dorset 43.2 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths36%12th of 18 in Dorset

Dorset 38% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths59%

Dorset 60% England 66%

This school
Dorset median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.39

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	100	41.4	36%	59%	–
2024/25	100	46.1	49%	67%	–
2023/24	107	42.2	46%	65%	−0.39
2022/23 *	111	41.1	38%	60%	−0.51

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

Sturminster Newton High SchoolThis school
This school

2026

1.7applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
Shaftesbury School
11.1 km · Dorset

Good2023

1.6applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
Gillingham School
11.8 km · Dorset

Good2023
The Blandford School
12.4 km · Dorset

Good2024

1.1applications per place 43.2Attainment 8
The Gryphon School
15.1 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place 47.4Attainment 8
King Arthur's School
15.9 km · Somerset

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.4applications per place 38.8Attainment 8
St Mary's Church of England Middle School, Puddletown
21.2 km · Dorset

Some aspects not as strong2025
Sexey's School
22.1 km · Somerset

Good2023

1.6applications per place 47.1Attainment 8
Buckler's Mead School
22.6 km · Somerset

Good2024

1.4applications per place 45.3Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 149657 · 838/4179
Trust: Sherborne Area Schools' Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 900 pupils · 605 on roll
Free school meals: 30.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 June 2023
Replaced: Sturminster Newton High School (URN 113875)
Address: Bath Road, Bath Road, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1DT
Local authority: Dorset

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