Schools by area › Dorset › Dorset Studio School
Dorset Studio School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Studio school
Kingston Maurward, Dorchester DT2 8PX · dorsetstudioschool.co.uk · 01305 443600
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Mar 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 34.1
- average Attainment 8 score. Dorset 43.2, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 332
- 89% of 375 places
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Sixth form
- No
- Free school meals
- 31.6%
- First language not English
- 0%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 51 families put the school first and 51 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 | 51 | 51 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 62 | 61 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 61 | 59 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 74 | 83 | 1.1▲ | 88% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 73 | 90 | 1.2▲ | 80% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 34.1, and 14.5% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Dorset it was 43.2, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼34.1 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼14.5% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼40.6% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼0.0% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼2.75 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 3.1 | −5 |
| Further education | 60.9 | −8.5 |
| Other education | 1.6 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 6.3 | +1.5 |
| Employment | 7.8 | −0.3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 14.1 | +6 |
| Activity not captured | 6.3 | +4.7 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
Left in 2018/19
| Other education | 11 |
|---|---|
| Apprenticeship | 33 |
| Employment | 33 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 11 |
| Activity not captured | 11 |
Ofsted
Dorset Studio School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 5 March 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 5 Mar 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Sept 2017
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Sept 2017Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
What parents said
69% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (86 replies, to 6 January 2025).
- Recommend
- 69%
- Replies
- 86
- 25% · 6 Jan 2025
based on the 84% who raised concerns
based on the 62% who had a child bullied
based on 49 parents (57%) with SEND