Most sought-after schools in Dorset

Ordered by how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out.

This list is sorted by one number: first preferences per place. For each school it is the number of families who named it first, divided by the number of offers it made, in the newest year we hold. A higher number means more families wanted a place than there were places.

This is not a list of the best schools. It does not measure how good a school is, how happy the children are, or how well they do. It also does not tell you whether a child would get a place: that depends on where you live, the year, and the council's rules. It only shows how many people applied.

#	School	First preferences per place	Newest intake	Latest Ofsted
1	Rushcombe First School Wimborne, primary	1.42	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
2	The Prince of Wales School Dorchester, primary	1.28	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
3	St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary School Weymouth, primary	1.27	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
4	Trent Young's CofE Primary School Sherborne, primary	1.25	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
5	Henbury View First School Wimborne, primary	1.20	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
6	Trinity Church of England First School Verwood, primary	1.20	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
7	Wimborne First School and Nursery Wimborne, primary	1.20	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
8	Radipole Primary School Weymouth, primary	1.17	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
9	Parley First School Ferndown, primary	1.14	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
10	St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester Dorchester, primary	1.14	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
11	Hayeswood First School Wimborne, primary	1.13	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
12	Salway Ash Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Bridport, primary	1.13	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
13	The Gryphon School Sherborne, secondary	1.13	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
14	Thornford CofE Primary School Sherborne, primary	1.13	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
15	Wool Church of England Primary School Wareham, primary	1.13	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
16	Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School Blandford Forum, primary	1.10	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
17	Colehill First School Wimborne, primary	1.10	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
18	Conifers Primary School Weymouth, primary	1.10	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
19	St Mary's Church of England First School, Charminster Dorchester, primary	1.10	2026	none held
20	St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery Ferndown, primary	1.10	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
21	Lytchett Matravers Primary School Poole, primary	1.08	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
22	Bincombe Valley Primary School Weymouth, primary	1.07	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
23	Hazelbury Bryan Primary School Sturminster Newton, primary	1.07	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
24	St Ives Primary & Nursery School Ringwood, primary	1.07	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
25	Oakhurst Community First School Ferndown, primary	1.03	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
26	Sherborne Primary School Sherborne, primary	1.02	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
27	All Saints Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Sherborne, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
28	All Saints' Church of England Academy Weymouth, secondary	1.00	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
29	Atlantic Academy Portland Portland, all through	1.00	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
30	Bere Regis Primary and Preschool Wareham, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
31	Bridport Primary School Bridport, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
32	Bridport, St Mary's Church of England Primary School Bridport, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
33	Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School Dorchester, primary	1.00	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
34	Budmouth Academy Weymouth Weymouth, secondary	1.00	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
35	Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School Dorchester, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
36	Corfe Castle Church of England Primary School Wareham, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
37	Dorset Studio School Dorchester, secondary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
38	Durweston Church of England Primary School Blandford Forum, primary	1.00	2026	Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
39	Frome Valley CofE First School Dorchester, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
40	Gillingham Primary School Gillingham, primary	1.00	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
41	Milldown CofE Academy Blandford Forum, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
42	Pamphill Church of England First School Wimborne, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
43	Parrett and Axe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Beaminster, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
44	Puddletown Church of England First School Dorchester, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
45	Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School Shaftesbury, primary	1.00	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
46	Sixpenny Handley First School and Nursery Salisbury, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
47	St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, Weymouth Weymouth, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
48	St Catherine's Roman Catholic School Bridport, primary	1.00	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
49	St George's Church of England Primary School, Langton Matravers Swanage, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
50	St George's Church of England School, Bourton Gillingham, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
51	St George's Foundation Primary School Portland, primary	1.00	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
52	St James Church of England First School Wimborne, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
53	St James' Church of England First School and Nursery, Alderholt Fordingbridge, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
54	St John's Church of England Primary School Weymouth, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
55	St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School Gillingham, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
56	St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage Swanage, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
57	Stalbridge Church of England Primary School Stalbridge, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
58	Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Dorchester, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
59	Stoborough Church of England Primary School Wareham, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
60	Swanage Primary School Swanage, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
61	The Sir John Colfox Academy Bridport, secondary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
62	Thorner's Church of England School, Litton Cheney Dorchester, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
63	Wareham St Mary Church of England Primary School Wareham, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
64	Wey Valley Academy Weymouth, secondary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
65	William Barnes Primary School Sturminster Newton, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
66	Wimborne St Giles Church of England First School and Nursery Wimborne, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
67	Wyke Primary School Gillingham, primary	1.00	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
68	Beaminster School Beaminster, secondary	0.99	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
69	The Blandford School Blandford Forum, secondary	0.99	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
70	The Woodroffe School Lyme Regis, secondary	0.99	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
71	Holy Trinity Church of England VC Primary School & Community Nursery Weymouth, primary	0.98	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
72	Lytchett Minster School Poole, secondary	0.98	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
73	The Swanage School Swanage, secondary	0.98	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
74	Southill Primary School Weymouth, primary	0.97	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
75	The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury Shaftesbury, primary	0.97	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
76	The Purbeck School Wareham, secondary	0.97	2026	Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
77	Verwood Church of England First School Verwood, primary	0.97	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
78	Sturminster Newton High School Sturminster Newton, secondary	0.96	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
79	Wyke Regis Infant School and Nursery Weymouth, primary	0.96	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
80	Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School Blandford Forum, primary	0.95	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
81	Broadmayne First School and Nursery Dorchester, primary	0.95	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
82	Downlands Community School Blandford Forum, primary	0.95	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
83	Manor Park Church of England First School Dorchester, primary	0.95	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
84	St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Child Okeford Blandford Forum, primary	0.95	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
85	Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary School Dorchester, primary	0.94	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
86	St Andrew's Church of England Primary School Sherborne, primary	0.94	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
87	Beaminster St Mary's Academy Beaminster, primary	0.93	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
88	Cranborne Church of England First School Wimborne, primary	0.93	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
89	Hillside Community First School Verwood, primary	0.93	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
90	Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School Sherborne, primary	0.93	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
91	St Andrew's Church of England Primary School Shaftesbury, primary	0.93	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
92	Symondsbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Bridport, primary	0.93	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
93	Bovington Academy Wareham, primary	0.92	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
94	Stower Provost Community School Gillingham, primary	0.92	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
95	Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School Dorchester, primary	0.92	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
96	Witchampton Church of England First School Wimborne, primary	0.92	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
97	Damers First School Dorchester, primary	0.91	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
98	Sandford St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Wareham, primary	0.91	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
99	Dunbury Church of England Academy Winterborne Whitechurch, primary	0.90	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
100	Spetisbury CofE Primary School Blandford Forum, primary	0.90	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
101	Upton Infant School Poole, primary	0.89	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
102	Shaftesbury School Shaftesbury, secondary	0.88	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
103	Beechcroft St Paul's CofE Primary School Weymouth, primary	0.86	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
104	Ferndown First School Ferndown, primary	0.85	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
105	Pimperne Church of England VC Primary School Blandford Forum, primary	0.84	2026	none held
106	Chickerell Primary Academy Weymouth, primary	0.82	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
107	Hampreston Church of England Voluntary Aided First School Wimborne, primary	0.82	2026	none held
108	Three Legged Cross First and Nursery School Wimborne, primary	0.75	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
109	St Andrew's Church of England Primary School Weymouth, primary	0.71	2026	Some aspects not as strong (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
110	St John's Church of England First School, Wimborne Wimborne, primary	0.60	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
111	Sturminster Marshall First School Wimborne, primary	0.53	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))

Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 111 schools in Dorset have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Dorset · How we compare schools.