Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Dorset 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 182 schools across Dorset. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Dorset has 182 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 166 with a published Ofsted inspection, 12 (7%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 86% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Cranborne Church of England First School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Dorset follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

182
Total schools
12
Outstanding (historic grade)
7%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
57%
Avg KS2 SATs
35.5
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Cranborne Church of England First School
Primary
 Good 88 View school
2. St James Church of England First School
Primary
 Outstanding 87 View school
3. Trinity Church of England First School
Primary
 Outstanding 86 View school
4. Wimborne St Giles Church of England First School and Nursery
Primary
 Good 86 View school
5. Piddle Valley Church of England First School
Primary
 Good 85 View school
6. Rushcombe First School
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
7. Parley First School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
8. Milborne St Andrew First School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
9. St Ives Primary & Nursery School
Primary
 Outstanding 80 View school
10. Trent Young's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
11. Cheselbourne Village School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
12. Bovington Academy
Primary
 Good 76 View school
13. Hampreston Church of England Voluntary Aided First School
Primary
 Outstanding 75 View school
14. Witchampton Church of England First School
Primary
 Good 75 View school
15. Henbury View First School
Primary
 Good 74 View school
16. Ferndown First School
Primary
 Good 73 View school
17. Spetisbury CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 73 View school
18. Beaminster St Mary's Academy
Primary
 Good 73 View school
19. Symondsbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Primary
 Good 72 View school
20. Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School
Primary
 Good 70 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Dorset

Best primary schools in DorsetTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in DorsetTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in DorsetReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in DorsetYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SomersetCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in WiltshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Bath and North East SomersetCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Dorset

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Dorset?
There are 182 open primary & secondary schools in Dorset (closed schools are excluded). 12 of the 166 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary & secondary schools in Dorset?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in Dorset is Cranborne Church of England First School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Dorset?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Dorset?
Primary and secondary applications in Dorset are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Dorset council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.