The Swanage School
Swanage, BH19 2PH · Dorset · secondary school
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11th 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 — 3.1/10 against 745 of them, against 2.7/10 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% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 33.9 · 22 | 30% | 0.67 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.28 · 29 | 25% | 0.72 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.1 · 34 | 10% | 0.34 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Swanage School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. In 2024/25, 20.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 36.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.28 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 (1.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join football, netball, basketball, badminton, and cricket clubs. The school offers surfing, climbing, bungy-jumping, coasteering, hiking, kayaking, and sailing, alongside Challenge Days and Challenge Week trips.
Getting in
The published school roll is 349 pupils against a stated capacity of 360. 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 attainment gap with national medians? What specific support is available for students who need to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are the outdoor activities integrated into the regular curriculum?
What Ofsted said about The Swanage School
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils belong to a "strong community" characterised by "positive relationships" and a culture of "tolerance and kindness." It highlights an "innovative curriculum" and "ambitious" personal development opportunities that prepare pupils well for their futures, noting that "personal development" is rated Outstanding.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate "positive attitudes" and behave well, with bullying being "extremely rare."
- The curriculum is "ambitious and carefully planned," allowing pupils to build knowledge sequentially and engage with "national and global challenges."
- Teachers "question pupils skilfully" to deepen understanding, ensuring work is "suitably demanding."
- Pupils benefit from an "exceptional range of opportunities," including international trips, clubs, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
- Staff support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well, adapting learning so they "learn effectively alongside their peers."
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure staff are fully supported to enact curriculum plans in areas that are "in the early stages of development," so pupils learn consistently well.
- A "coherent plan" is needed for diagnosing the specific support struggling readers require, as current efforts are not "precisely matched to their needs."
- The school must address the issue that "too many pupils are persistently absent," despite maintaining a "sharp focus on attendance."
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 | 39.5 |
| 2024/25 | 36.9 |
| 2025/26 | 43.1 |
| 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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