Dorset · South West
Schools in Dorchester
24 schools have a Dorchester postal address: 16 primary and 5 secondary, with the rest nursery, special, sixth-form and independent schools. Rank them on GCSE and KS2 results, check Ofsted, and add your postcode to sort by distance.
Turn this into your shortlist
Add a postcode and the table below reorders by distance.
Averages cover state mainstream schools, the basis of the national figures. Special and independent schools are in the table below but not in the averages.
Ofsted across Dorchester
Most recent inspection outcome for every school with a published judgement. Click a bar to filter the table.
Spread of Attainment 8
Number of Dorchester secondaries in each band. Click a bar to filter the table.
Dorchester schools
Ranked by Attainment 8 — switch the measure to reorder
| Select | # | School | Attainment 8 | Progress 8 | 5+ Eng & maths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Thomas Hardye School Academy converter · Not judged | 49.8 | +0.30 | 67% | |
| 2 | Dorset Studio School Studio schools · Good | 34.1 | -0.50 | 33% | |
| 3 | Broadmayne First School Community school · Good | — | — | — | |
| 4 | Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School Academy converter | — | — | — | |
| 5 | Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School Voluntary controlled school · Good | — | — | — | |
| 6 | Cheselbourne Village School Community school | — | — | — | |
| 7 | Damers First School Academy converter | — | — | — | |
| 8 | Dorchester Learning Centre Pupil referral unit · Good | — | — | — | |
| 9 | Dorchester Middle School Academy converter · Requires improvement | — | — | — | |
| 10 | Employ My Ability (EMA) Ltd Special post 16 institution | — | — | — |
All schools in Dorchester (A–Z)
1–24 of 24 schools
- Broadmayne First SchoolPrimary · DT2 8PH
- Buckland Newton Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · DT2 7BY
- Cerne Abbas CofE VC First SchoolPrimary · DT2 7LA
- Cheselbourne Village SchoolPrimary · DT2 7NT
- Damers First SchoolPrimary · DT1 3DF
- Dorchester Learning CentreNot applicable · DT2 9PS
- Dorchester Middle SchoolMiddle deemed secondary · DT1 2HS
- Dorset Studio SchoolSecondary · DT2 8PX
- Employ My Ability (EMA) LtdNot applicable · DT2 8RH
- Frome Valley CofE VA First SchoolPrimary · DT2 8WR
- Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · DT2 0AX
- Manor Park Church of England First SchoolPrimary · DT1 2BH
- Piddle Valley Church of England First SchoolPrimary · DT2 7QL
- Puddletown Church of England First SchoolPrimary · DT2 8FZ
- St Mary's Catholic First School, DorchesterPrimary · DT1 2DD
- St Mary's Church of England First School, CharminsterPrimary · DT2 9RD
- St Mary's Church of England Middle School, PuddletownMiddle deemed secondary · DT2 8SA
- St Osmund's Church of England Middle SchoolMiddle deemed secondary · DT1 2DZ
- Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolPrimary · DT2 0JP
- Sunninghill Preparatory SchoolNot applicable · DT1 1EB
- The Prince of Wales SchoolPrimary · DT1 2HH
- The Thomas Hardye SchoolSecondary · DT1 2ET
- Thorner's Church of England School, Litton CheneyPrimary · DT2 9AU
- Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First SchoolPrimary · DT2 9LW
Admissions and catchment distances
All Dorchester schools are in Dorset. Apply through the council where you live, even for a school across a council border.
Common questions about schools in Dorchester
How many schools are there in Dorchester?
24 open schools have a Dorchester postal address: 16 primary, 5 secondary and 3 others (nursery, special, sixth-form and independent).
Which state secondary schools in Dorchester have the best GCSE results?
By Attainment 8 in the latest Department for Education results: The Thomas Hardye School (49.8), Dorset Studio School (34.1). Progress 8, grade 5+ English and maths and Ofsted are in the table on this page.
Which council handles school admissions in Dorchester?
Dorchester schools are in Dorset. You apply through the council where you live, even for a school in a neighbouring council area, and each school’s admission rules decide who gets a place.