SchoolScoresDorchester Middle School
Academy · Secondary, ages 9 to 13 · Mixed
Part of WESSEX MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Queen's Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2HS
01305 265651 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 2 June 2026 , published 5 July 2026.
In short: 1 strong, 4 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
86 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Dorchester comparisons use the 4 of its 5 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other one has 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 | Dorchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 83% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 71% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 86% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 63% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 76% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 32 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 59% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53% | 45% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 66 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 82% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 70% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 23 parents of children with SEND 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 30% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 52% | 55% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 62% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84%said yes | 82% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 16%). 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. Dorchester figures pool parents at the Dorchester 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
124 pupils in this year group.
49% — 8 points below the Dorset average, and 13 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 49% | 57% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 5% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 65% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 71% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 58% | 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. | 101 | 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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 5 places for physical disability. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 42% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 24.1% | 23.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.8% | 4.4%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 16.9% | 15.4%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 63% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.7% | 5.4%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Dorchester. Lower than 71% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.1% | 9.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Dorchester. Lower than 67% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 20.1% | 24.7%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Dorchester. Lower than 37% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 20.4 | 18.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Dorchester. Lower than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.0% | 6.7% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.37% | 0.24% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 56% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.1 | 17.0 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.8 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 41% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 11.9% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- The Thomas Hardye School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- Sunninghill Preparatory School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Osmund's CofE Middle School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- Dorset Studio School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 15% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Dorchester Middle School's Ofsted rating?
Dorchester Middle School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 2 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 strong, 4 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
Would parents recommend Dorchester Middle School?
84% of the 86 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Dorchester 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 138186.
- 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.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.