Schools by area › Dorset › Dorchester Middle School
Dorchester Middle School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 9–13 · Academy
Queen's Avenue, Dorchester DT1 2HS · dorchestermid.dorset.sch.uk · 01305 265651
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jun 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 49%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Dorset 57%, England 62%
- Pupils
- 527
- 88% of 600 places
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Sixth form
- No
- Free school meals
- 22%
- First language not English
- 14%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Results
In 2024/25, 49% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 5% the higher standard. Across Dorset it was 57%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼49% | 62% | ||
| ▼5% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●104 | 106 | ||
| ▼101 | 105 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Dorchester Middle School on 2 June 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 2 Jun 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Jun 2023
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
- Nov 2024Monitoring visitEffective action
Jun 2023Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
May 2019Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Nov 2018Ungraded inspectionConcerns
Safeguarding Effective Mar 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Jun 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
84% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (86 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 84%
- Replies
- 86
- 16% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 77% who raised concerns
based on the 37% who had a child bullied
based on 23 parents (27%) with SEND