Schools by area › Dorset › Beaminster School
Beaminster School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Voluntary controlled
Newtown, Beaminster DT8 3EP · beaminster.dorset.sch.uk · 01308 862633
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Sept 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 47
- average Attainment 8 score. Dorset 43.2, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 673
- 89% of 760 places
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 22.5%
- First language not English
- 2.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 119 families put the school first and 120 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 120 | 119 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 116 | 127 | 1.1▲ | 90% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 116 | 112 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 85 | 81 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 118 | 116 | 1 | 97% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47, and 43.6% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Dorset it was 43.2, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C- (25.2 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●47 | 46 | ||
| ●43.6% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲70.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲51.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.26 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 33.6 | +8.8 |
| Further education | 45.9 | −4.5 |
| Other education | 2.5 | −3.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.7 | +1.4 |
| Employment | 4.1 | −0.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.9 | −1.1 |
| Activity not captured | 3.3 | +1.6 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 students | C- (25.2) | Below average -0.28 | |
| 40 students | C- (25.6) | Below average -0.25 | |
| Applied general12 students | Merit+ (29.8) | Average +0.25 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 20 | C- (26) | -0.58 |
| 2022/23 | 31 | C- (27.9) | — |
| 2021/22 | 27 | C+ (33.3) | — |
| 2018/19 | 45 | C- (27.2) | -0.10 |
| 2017/18 | 40 | C (30.2) | -0.13 |
| 2016/17 | 52 | C- (26.9) | -0.24 |
| 2015/16 | 38 | C+ (34.3) | +0.15 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 24 | −17.4 |
| Further education | 8 | +4.6 |
| Employment | 48 | +10.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 16 | +9.1 |
| Activity not captured | 4 | +0.6 |
Ofsted
Beaminster School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 26 September 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 26 Sept 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Sept 2017Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Nov 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Oct 2008Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement
What parents said
84% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (148 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 84%
- Replies
- 148
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 76% who raised concerns
based on the 32% who had a child bullied
based on 38 parents (26%) with SEND