Schools in Dorchester

About schools in Dorchester

Most of the 24 schools listed in Dorchester are primary schools. Its two secondary schools are where families compare options once a child finishes primary. Dorchester keeps a three-tier system, so three middle schools sit between the primary and secondary stages.

Every school on this page is inspected by Ofsted. Its newer reports judge a school across several areas rather than giving one overall grade, while older reports still carry the previous single grade, so read the framework and the date on each page before you set two schools side by side. Where results have been published you will also find key stage 2 scores for the primary schools and Attainment 8 for the secondary schools. An inspection or a results table captures a school at one past moment, so use this page to draw up a shortlist and then visit.

Key stage 2, 2024/25

57%

of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, across the 7 schools with published results

Primary schools16

The figure beside a school is the share of its pupils who reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

• Broadmayne First School

  Community school · Ages 4 to 9

• Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School

  Academy converter · Ages 2 to 11

  71%

  expected standard
• Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School

  Voluntary controlled school · Ages 3 to 9

• Cheselbourne Village School

  Community school · Ages 3 to 9

• Damers First School

  Academy converter · Ages 4 to 9

• Frome Valley CofE First School

  Academy converter · Ages 2 to 9

• Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary School

  Voluntary controlled school · Ages 4 to 11

  63%

  expected standard
• Manor Park Church of England First School

  Academy sponsor led · Ages 2 to 9

• Piddle Valley Church of England First School

  Academy converter · Ages 2 to 9

• Puddletown Church of England First School

  Academy converter · Ages 4 to 9

• St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester

  Academy converter · Ages 2 to 9

• St Mary's Church of England First School, Charminster

  Academy converter · Ages 4 to 9

• Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

  Voluntary aided school · Ages 5 to 11

  53%

  expected standard
• The Prince of Wales School

  Community school · Ages 2 to 9

• Thorner's Church of England School, Litton Cheney

  Voluntary aided school · Ages 2 to 11

  73%

  expected standard
• Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School

  Voluntary aided school · Ages 3 to 9

Middle schools3

The figure beside a school is the share of its pupils who reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

• Dorchester Middle School

  Academy converter · Ages 9 to 13

  49%

  expected standard
• St Mary's Church of England Middle School, Puddletown

  Academy converter · Ages 9 to 13

  61%

  expected standard
• St Osmund's Church of England Middle School

  Academy converter · Ages 9 to 13

  58%

  expected standard

Secondary schools2

The figure beside a school is its average Attainment 8 score (out of 90) in 2024/25.

• Dorset Studio School

  Studio schools · Ages 11 to 16

  34.1

  Attainment 8
• The Thomas Hardye School

  Academy converter · Ages 13 to 18

  49.8

  Attainment 8

Special schools and alternative provision2

• Dorchester Learning Centre

  Pupil referral unit · Ages 5 to 18

• Employ My Ability (EMA) Ltd

  Special post 16 institution · Ages 16 to 25

Independent schools1

• Sunninghill Preparatory School

  Other independent school · Ages 2 to 13

Common questions about schools in Dorchester

How many schools are in Dorchester?

OfferDay lists 24 schools in Dorchester, including 16 primary schools and three middle schools.

Who inspects schools in Dorchester?

Every school in Dorchester is inspected by Ofsted. Newer reports grade several areas of a school separately on a report card, while older reports carry a single overall grade, so check the framework and the date on each page before you compare two schools.

Which are the best schools in Dorchester?

OfferDay ranks schools in Dorchester where the Department for Education has published results, by key stage 2 scores for primary schools and Attainment 8 for secondary schools. The ranking links are near the top of this page. A results table only captures one part of a school, so use it to draw up a shortlist and then visit.

School details come from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools register. Inspection outcomes come from Ofsted, and exam results from the Department for Education's school performance service. Information on this page was last updated on 24 July 2026.