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The Blandford School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Voluntary controlled

Milldown Road, Blandford Forum DT11 7SQ · blandfordschool.org.uk · 01258 451121

On the mapSearch near DT11 7SQ

Overview

Ofsted
Good
2019 framework · inspected Apr 2024
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
1,103
71% of 1,557 places
Local authority
Dorset
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
21.2%
First language not English
6.3%
School census 2025/26

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 199 families put the school first and 202 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 231 (Places 217)231September 2023: 233 (Places 240)233September 2024: 177 (Places 179)177September 2025: 179 (Places 184)179September 2026: 199 (Places 202)199Places 202
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262021991100%
September 2025Sept 20251841791100%
September 2024Sept 20241791771100%
September 2023Sept 20232402331100%
September 2022Sept 20222172311.1▲93%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47, and 46.2% 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 B- (37.2 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 42.1 (England 46.3)42.12017/18: 50.9 (England 46.5)50.92018/19: 48.2 (England 46.7)48.22021/22: 49.7 (England 48.8)49.72022/23: 49.2 (England 46.3)49.22023/24: 46.6 (England 45.9)46.62024/25: 47.0 (England 46.0)47.0England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
●4746
●46.2%45.4%
●65.9%64.8%
▼26.9%40.5%
●4.164.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form45.7−3.4
Further education36.6+9.7
Other education1.1−0.7
Apprenticeship5.4−2.2
Employment3.2−0.9
Not in a lasting destination70
Activity not captured1.1−2.4

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 28.6 (England 30.5)C2016/17: 31.0 (England 31.1)C2017/18: 35.1 (England 32.1)B-2018/19: 33.2 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 41.5 (England 37.9)B2022/23: 37.6 (England 34.2)B-2023/24: 38.0 (England 34.4)B-2024/25: 37.2 (England 35.0)B-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
60 studentsB- (37.2)Above average +0.24
60 studentsB- (36.7)Above average +0.19
20 studentsDist*- (43.7)Well above average +0.90
17.4%AAB or better
90.2%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2452B- (38)+0.27
2022/2372B- (37.6)—
2021/2258B (41.5)—
2018/1950C+ (33.2)+0.14
2017/1866B- (35.1)+0.21
2016/1791C (31)+0.19
2015/16103C (28.6)+0.01

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University46.6+8.6
Further education1.7+0.3
Apprenticeship3.4−3.6
Employment34.5−7.8
Not in a lasting destination10.3+1.8
Activity not captured3.4+0.6

Ofsted

The Blandford School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 23 April 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Good
Inspected
23 Apr 2024
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood

Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Oct 2021

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Feb 2023Monitoring visitEffective action
  • Oct 2021Requires improvement
    Quality of educationGood
    Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
    Personal developmentRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    Sixth formGood
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Jan 2018Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Oct 2012Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood

What parents said

70% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (235 replies, to 7 April 2025).

Recommend
70%
Replies
235
21% · 7 Apr 2025
Child is happy at school▼73% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▼74% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▼60% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▼77% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▼79% agreeEngland 88%
Told what child will learn▼69% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing▼81% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▼85% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities●91% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▼64% agreeEngland 80%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼73% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 83% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼44% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 45% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need●66% agreeEngland 68%

based on 56 parents (24%) with SEND

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