Dorset Studio School
Dorchester, DT2 8PX · Dorset · secondary school
16th 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.5/10 against 764 of them, against 0.7/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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% | 1.81 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 14.5 · 1 | 30% | 0.03 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.5 · 16 | 25% | 0.40 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 34.1 · 5 | 10% | 0.05 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. In 2024/25, 14.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 34.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.5 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.7 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2024.
Beyond the classroom. Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh and King's Trust clubs, or participate in British Eventing Horse Trials and Dressage.
Getting in. The school has 325 pupils in a capacity of 375, leaving 50 spare places. The school has a little room, but is fairly full.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school support pupils to close the attainment gap with the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths? How does the school manage the transition for new students given the current enrolment levels?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
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.
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