Lytchett Minster School

Foundation school · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form

Post Green Road, Purbeck, Lytchett Minster, Poole, BH16 6JD

01202 622413 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 11 June 2013; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths47%England 45% · 2024/25
5th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Higher than 59% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,624Room for 1,650 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,454 in 2019, 1,516 in 2021, 1,567 in 2022, 1,549 in 2023, 1,526 in 2024, 1,590 in 2025, 1,624 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0253 for 257 places, September 2026
5th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Higher than 58% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 11 June 2013.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 22 February 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

253 pupils in this year group.

47% — 7 points above the Dorset average, and 2 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDorsetEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 47% 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. 46.8 43.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.9 3.8 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 48%This school 2023/24: 53%This school 2024/25: 47% This school England 45% 2022/23 48% 2023/24 53% 2024/25 47%

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.

255 pupils in this year group.

93% — about the same as the Dorset average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 43%40%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolDorsetEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 93% 94% 92%
School sixth form 43% 43% 34%
Sixth form college 0% – 13%
Further education college 40% 39% 37%
Apprenticeship 5% 5% 3%
Work 3% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
97%93%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

101 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolDorsetEngland
Average A level grade B- C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 21% 19% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 53% 45% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 35.4 32.2 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 36.0This school 2023/24: 36.6This school 2024/25: 35.4 This school England 35 2022/23 36.0 2023/24 36.6 2024/25 35.4

A level subjects, 2024/25

19 subjects, 249 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Biology 34 0% 6% 27%
Geography 25 4% 8% 23%
Mathematics 24 4% 42% 40%
Psychology 20 10% 30% 19%
Business Studies:Single 17 0% 12% 16%
English Literature 15 0% 13% 23%
History 13 0% 8% 23%
Drama and Theatre Studies 12 0% 8% 19%
Government and Politics 12 0% 17% 26%
Chemistry 11 0% 9% 30%
Art and Design (Fine Art) 10 10% 30% 38%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 10 0% 50% 15%
Sociology 9 44% 78% 20%
Art and Design (Photography) 8 0% 13% 26%
Computer Studies / Computing 7 0% 0% 24%
Physics 7 14% 14% 31%
Religious Studies 7 0% 29% 22%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Mathematics (Further), Art and Design (Textiles).

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

135 students in this year group.

82% — 2 points above the Dorset average, and 3 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDorsetEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 82% 80% 79%
Apprenticeship 7% 7% 7%
Work 39% 40% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
85%82%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

124 students in this year group.

63% — 9 points above the Dorset average, and 3 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDorsetEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 63% 54% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 21% 19% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
63%63%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered257
Families who put it first253
Of those, offered a place248 (98%)
Families who listed it at all399

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Dorset

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolDorsetEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
5th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Higher than 29% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
19.6% 23.2%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
5th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.7% 4.4%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
7th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Higher than 46% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
13.1% 15.4%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
8th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Higher than 10% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.8% 5.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
4th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Lower than 60% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.8% 9.2%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
4th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Lower than 55% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
22.6% 24.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
4th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Lower than 52% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.7 18.7 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
5th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Lower than 45% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
7.4% 6.7% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils 0.19% 0.24% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 2nd highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Higher than 61% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.3 17.0 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
5th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Higher than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.2 12.0 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
7th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole.
Higher than 39% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
11.5% 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.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Lytchett Minster School's Ofsted rating?

Lytchett Minster School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 11 June 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 22 February 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Lytchett Minster School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 47% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Lytchett Minster School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 253 families put Lytchett Minster School as their first choice for 257 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 248 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.