SchoolScoresHarbour School Dorset
Special free school · Secondary, ages 10 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of SOUTHERN EDUCATION TRUST
School Road, Bovington, Bovington, BH20 6NU
01929 508286 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 10 October 2023.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
35 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 77% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 69% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 60% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 18 parents whose child had been bullied | 50% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 32 parents who had raised a concern | 69% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 69%said yes | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. 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
9 pupils in this year group.
Only 9 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
0% — 57 points below the Dorset average, and 62 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 57% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 44% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 0% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 22% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 101 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 96 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
23 pupils in this year group.
0% — 41 points below the Dorset average, and 45 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 0% | 41% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 3.9 | 43.2 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 0.3 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
9 pupils in this year group.
Only 9 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
78% — 16 points below the Dorset average, and 14 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 78% | 94% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 43% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 22% | 39% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 4% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 100% | 78% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs.
| Pupils | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 49.6% | 46.1%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 100.0%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.0%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 0.7% | 1.7%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 31.5% | 12.0%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 65.9% | 29.9%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 17.9 | 5.8 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 10.7% | 3.2% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.20% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 6.0 | 6.2 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 25.2% | 16.9%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * 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).
Questions parents ask
What is Harbour School Dorset's Ofsted rating?
Harbour School Dorset was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 10 October 2023.
How did Harbour School Dorset do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 0% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 45 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Harbour School Dorset?
69% of the 35 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Harbour School Dorset 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 147087.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.