Grammar schools in Dorchester
There are no grammar schools in Dorchester.
Grammar schools are state secondaries that select by ability, usually through an 11+ test. Only 46 of the 226 local authorities in the UK still have any, and Dorset is not one of them, so every state secondary in Dorchester admits without a selective test.
The nearest is Parkstone Grammar School, about 19.8 miles away in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Most grammar schools accept out-of-area applicants, though distance is often a tie-breaker when a school is oversubscribed.
Nearest grammar schools to Dorchester
Straight-line distance from the centre of Dorchester — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkstone Grammar School | Poole | 19.8 miles | Girls | Not judged |
| Poole Grammar School | Poole | 20.1 miles | Boys | Not judged |
| Bournemouth School | Bournemouth | 25.4 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
| Bournemouth School for Girls | Bournemouth | 25.7 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| Colyton Grammar School | Colyton | 27.7 miles | Mixed | Outstanding |
| Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School | Salisbury | 36.1 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
Published admissions priorities
These are extracts from school-specific arrangements for the entry years shown, in priority order. They are not the full policy or a prediction of an offer. Check the linked arrangement for test eligibility, deadlines and all remaining priorities.
Parkstone Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (eligible = met the academic standard) (published source)
- Girls in the historic Borough of Poole (or BH12/13/14/15/16/17/18/21 postcodes) eligible for Pupil Premium (published source)
- Girls in the historic Borough of Poole / listed postcodes (not Pupil Premium) (published source)
Bournemouth School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (all given equal priority) (published source)
- Boys eligible for Pupil Premium, ranked by entrance test score (published source)
- A fixed quota of places assigned to the highest-scoring boys overall, regardless of catchment (published source)
Bournemouth School for Girls — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (all given equal priority) (published source)
- Girls eligible for Pupil Premium, ranked by entrance test score (published source)
- 100 places assigned to the highest-scoring girls overall (out of PAN 180), regardless of catchment (published source)
Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (published source)
- Pupil Premium boys (Ever-6 FSM) at the time of the entry exam (published source)
- Boys permanently resident in the School's designated area (map-defined) (published source)
Schools in Dorchester
Dorchester has 23 open schools. Browse all Dorchester schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
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