The Dormston School
Dudley, DY3 1SN · Dudley · secondary school
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12th of 18 secondary schools in Dudley we can score, 19 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 — 3.2/10 against 871 of them, against 3.3/10 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 | 34% | 1.80 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 41.9 · 42 | 30% | 1.27 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.44 · 19 | 25% | 0.47 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.5 · 42 | 10% | 0.42 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Dormston School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2022. In 2024/25, 42.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.44 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally matched peers. 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 (3.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,128 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,120. 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
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students starting from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about The Dormston School
Overview
The Dormston School is described as a "harmonious and cohesive community" where leaders and teachers share values of "effort, knowledge, respect, responsibility and resilience." Pupils value their education, behave well, and are supported to progress to the next stage of their education or training.
Strengths
- The school is a "calm place to learn" with "mutual respect" between staff and pupils, and bullying is "uncommon."
- Teachers have "strong subject knowledge" and the curriculum is "well planned and ordered," allowing pupils to develop understanding over time.
- Reading is a high priority, with pupils reading regularly across the curriculum and receiving specialist support if needed.
- The inclusive curriculum means many pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) "achieve well."
- Pupils enjoy a "wide range of extra-curricular opportunities," including clubs, sports, and leadership roles, and receive extensive information about the world of work.
Areas to improve
- Teachers’ use of assessment focuses too narrowly on summative grades, failing to identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge and skills precisely enough.
- Leaders do not routinely provide teachers with precise enough information on how to adapt teaching for pupils with SEND, meaning some do not receive the specific support they need.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff being "vigilant, knowledgeable and systematic" in their approach to keeping everyone safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.8 |
| 2024/25 | 42.1 |
| 2025/26 | 44.5 |
| 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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