Beaminster School
Beaminster, DT8 3EP · Dorset · secondary school
Check the area around this school
8th of 19 secondary schools in Dorset we can score, 29 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 908 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.6/10 among them, against 4.3/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 41.3 · 41 | 30% | 1.22 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.08 · 44 | 25% | 1.10 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.4 · 46 | 10% | 0.46 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Beaminster School overview
How it's doing
Beaminster School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2023-11. In 2024/25, 43.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 47.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.08 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.3 out of 10 among them, against 4.9 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 673 pupils against a stated capacity of 760. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
Since the Progress 8 score is below 0, what specific support is offered to pupils who are falling behind? How does the school engage parents in monitoring individual progress?
What Ofsted said about Beaminster School
Overview
Beaminster School is described as a community where pupils, parents, staff and governors are proud to be part of, underpinned by an ethos of ‘ambition, service and kindness’. The report states that the overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision are all ‘Good’.
Strengths
- Pupils behave well and have ‘good relationships with adults, built on mutual respect and trust’.
- The school has ‘planned an ambitious curriculum’ with the English Baccalaureate at its heart, helping pupils build knowledge from Year 7 to Year 13.
- Needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are ‘accurately identified’, ensuring they receive necessary support.
- Pupils value ‘life studies’ lessons, learning about healthy relationships and developing an understanding of ‘fundamental British Values’.
- All pupils receive ‘effective careers education’, with sixth-form students making ‘informed choices’ about their next steps.
Areas to improve
- Assessment is ‘not always used effectively’ to check pupil understanding, meaning some misconceptions go unchallenged and teaching is not always adapted to fill knowledge gaps.
- The reading curriculum does not support pupils in Years 9 and above to read widely, as it lacks a ‘diverse range of challenging texts suited to their ages’.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.3 |
| 2024/25 | 47.0 |
| 2025/26 | 45.4 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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