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School rankings · Dorset

Best schools in Dorchester

7 schools in Dorchester, each ranked among its council's schools of the same phase on the newest DfE results.

iSources and method

SourceDfE, key stage 2 school performance tables, 2024/25.
DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables, 2025/26.
DfE, 16 to 18 school and college performance tables, 2024/25.
DfE, 16 to 18 school and college performance tables, 2024/25.

How it is worked outEach school's league rank is its place among its council's schools of the same phase on the newest year's DfE results, the same rank as the Dorset league tables.
The best ranked schools within reach of the town centre sit beside them; distances are as the crow flies.

Things to know
  • A dash means no figure is published for that school (DfE hides figures for small groups).

Primary schools

i

SourceDfE, key stage 2 school performance tables, 2024/25.

How it is worked outRanked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths; the share reaching the higher standard breaks a tie. Each school's league rank is its place among its council's schools of the same phase with a figure that year; schools from several councils are listed by the same figure. England: 62%. The same rank as the league tables (how it is worked out).

Things to know
  • A dash: no figure published for that school (DfE hides figures for small groups).
  • Not ranked: Broadmayne First School and Nursery, Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School, Cheselbourne Village School, Damers First School, Frome Valley CofE First School, Manor Park Church of England First School, Piddle Valley Church of England First School, Puddletown Church of England First School, St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester, St Mary's Church of England First School, Charminster, The Prince of Wales School, Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School: no published figure for the newest year (DfE hides figures for small year groups), or no published results.
  • Distances are as the crow flies.

Dorchester's own ranking

In DorchesterSchoolExpected standardHigher standardLeague rank
1Thorner's Church of England School, Litton Cheney73%7%Top 9% (7/79) in Dorset
2Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School71%6%Top 14% (11/79) in Dorset
3Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary School63%0%Top 38% (30/79) in Dorset
4Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School53%11%(43/79) in Dorset

12 not ranked: no published figure for the newest year.

Secondary schools (GCSE)

i

SourceDfE, key stage 4 school performance tables, 2025/26.

How it is worked outRanked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs; the share with grade 5 or above in English and maths breaks a tie. Each school's league rank is its place among its council's schools of the same phase with a figure that year; schools from several councils are listed by the same figure. England: 47.4. The same rank as the league tables (how it is worked out).

Things to know
  • A dash: no figure published for that school (DfE hides figures for small groups).
  • Not ranked: Dorchester Middle School, St Mary's Church of England Middle School, Puddletown, St Osmund's Church of England Middle School: no published figure for the newest year (DfE hides figures for small year groups), or no published results.
  • Distances are as the crow flies.

Dorchester's own ranking

In DorchesterSchoolAttainment 8Grade 5+ English and mathsLeague rank
1The Thomas Hardye School47.851%Top 22% (4/19) in Dorset
2Dorset Studio School32.013%(19/19) in Dorset

3 not ranked: no published figure for the newest year.

Best ranked within 6 miles

SchoolTownFrom the centreAttainment 8Grade 5+ English and mathsLeague rank
Wey Valley AcademyWeymouth4.7 miles38.938%(16/19) in Dorset

Sixth forms and colleges (A level)

i

SourceDfE, 16 to 18 school and college performance tables, 2024/25.

How it is worked outRanked on 2025 A level results: average points per A level entry; value added breaks a tie. Each school's league rank is its place among its council's schools of the same phase with a figure that year; schools from several councils are listed by the same figure. England: 35.0. The same rank as the league tables (how it is worked out).

Things to know
  • A dash: no figure published for that school (DfE hides figures for small groups).
  • Distances are as the crow flies.

Dorchester's own ranking

In DorchesterSchoolPoints per A level entryValue addedLeague rank
1The Thomas Hardye School34.8+0.05Top 27% (4/15) in Dorset

Best ranked within 6 miles

SchoolTownFrom the centrePoints per A level entryValue addedLeague rank
Weymouth and Kingston Maurward CollegeWeymouth6.0 miles24.5-0.16(14/15) in Dorset

Private schools (A level)

i

SourceDfE, 16 to 18 school and college performance tables, 2024/25.

How it is worked outRanked on 2025 A level results: average points per A level entry. Each school's league rank is its place among its council's schools of the same phase with a figure that year; schools from several councils are listed by the same figure. England (private schools): 43.0. The same rank as the league tables (how it is worked out).

Things to know
  • A dash: no figure published for that school (DfE hides figures for small groups).
  • Distances are as the crow flies.

None in Dorchester itself is ranked.

Best ranked within 12 miles

SchoolTownFrom the centrePoints per A level entryLeague rank
Milton Abbey SchoolBlandford Forum10.3 miles23.7(6/6) in Dorset

More

League tables: Dorset Primary · Dorset GCSE.

Living in Dorchester with children: homes, crime, transport, broadband and nurseries.

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources and methods: tap the (i) on each section. How we know · All sources.