SchoolScoresCranborne Middle School
Community school · Secondary, ages 9 to 13 · Mixed
Cranborne, Wimborne, BH21 5RP
01725 517348 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 11 June 2019.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 15 January 2025: Ofsted found some aspects were not as strong as at the last graded inspection.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
37 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Wimborne comparisons use the 3 of its 5 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 2 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Wimborne | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wimborne. Higher than 60% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 90% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wimborne. Higher than 61% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wimborne. Higher than 78% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 85% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 12 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wimborne. Higher than 92% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 63% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 32 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wimborne. Higher than 62% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 81% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wimborne. Higher than 67% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86%said yes | 88% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 12%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Wimborne figures pool parents at the Wimborne schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
74 pupils in this year group.
65% — 8 points above the Dorset average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 65% | 57% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 74% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 74% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 73% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Dorset. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 22% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.3% | 23.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 65% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.6% | 4.4%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 5% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.9% | 15.4%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 0% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 0.3% | 5.4%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Wimborne. Lower than 89% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 5.7% | 9.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Wimborne. Lower than 86% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 14.7% | 24.7%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Wimborne. Lower than 84% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.6 | 18.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Wimborne. Lower than 86% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 2.6% | 6.7% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.24% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 87% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.9 | 17.0 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 24% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.6 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 87% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 22.8% | 13.8%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Questions parents ask
What is Cranborne Middle School's Ofsted rating?
Cranborne Middle School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 11 June 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 15 January 2025, Ofsted found some aspects were not as strong as at the last graded inspection.
Would parents recommend Cranborne Middle School?
86% of the 37 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Cranborne Middle School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 113853.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.