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 |
The Prince of Wales School Dorchester, primary |
2.03 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 2 |
St Ives Primary & Nursery School Ringwood, primary |
1.55 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 3 |
Symondsbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Bridport, primary |
1.47 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 4 |
St James Church of England First School Wimborne, primary |
1.46 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 5 |
Trent Young's CofE Primary School Sherborne, primary |
1.40 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 6 |
Rushcombe First School Wimborne, primary |
1.35 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 7 |
Trinity Church of England First School Verwood, primary |
1.31 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 8 |
St John's Church of England Primary School Weymouth, primary |
1.21 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 9 |
Shillingstone Church of England Primary School Blandford Forum, primary |
1.20 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 10 |
The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury Shaftesbury, primary |
1.20 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 11 |
Lytchett Matravers Primary School Poole, primary |
1.17 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 12 |
Lytchett Minster School Poole, secondary |
1.17 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 13 |
St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester Dorchester, primary |
1.17 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 14 |
The Gryphon School Sherborne, secondary |
1.17 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 15 |
Wimborne First School and Nursery Wimborne, primary |
1.17 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 16 |
Parley First School Ferndown, primary |
1.15 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 17 |
Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School Blandford Forum, primary |
1.13 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 18 |
Budmouth Academy Weymouth Weymouth, secondary |
1.11 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 19 |
Durweston Church of England Primary School Blandford Forum, primary |
1.10 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 20 |
Beaminster School Beaminster, secondary |
1.09 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 21 |
Salway Ash Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Bridport, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 22 |
Southill Primary School Weymouth, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 23 |
St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School Gillingham, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 24 |
Corfe Castle Church of England Primary School Wareham, primary |
1.06 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 25 |
Bridport, St Mary's Church of England Primary School Bridport, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 26 |
Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School Blandford Forum, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 27 |
Beaminster St Mary's Academy Beaminster, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 28 |
Beechcroft St Paul's CofE Primary School Weymouth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 29 |
Bincombe Valley Primary School Weymouth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 30 |
Bovington Academy Wareham, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 31 |
Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School Dorchester, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 32 |
Chickerell Primary Academy Weymouth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 33 |
Conifers Primary School Weymouth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 34 |
Dunbury Church of England Academy Winterborne Whitechurch, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 35 |
Frome Valley CofE First School Dorchester, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 36 |
Gillingham Primary School Gillingham, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 37 |
Hazelbury Bryan Primary School Sturminster Newton, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 38 |
Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary School Dorchester, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 39 |
Milborne St Andrew First School Blandford Forum, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 40 |
Parrett and Axe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Beaminster, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 41 |
Puddletown Church of England First School Dorchester, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 42 |
Sixpenny Handley First School and Nursery Salisbury, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 43 |
St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, Weymouth Weymouth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 44 |
St George's Foundation Primary School Portland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 45 |
St James' Church of England First School and Nursery, Alderholt Fordingbridge, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 46 |
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull Sturminster Newton, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 47 |
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage Swanage, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 48 |
St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary School Weymouth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 49 |
Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Dorchester, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 50 |
Thornford CofE Primary School Sherborne, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 51 |
Wimborne St Giles Church of England First School and Nursery Wimborne, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 52 |
Wool Church of England Primary School Wareham, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 53 |
Wyke Regis Infant School and Nursery Weymouth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 54 |
The Swanage School Swanage, secondary |
0.99 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 55 |
Dorset Studio School Dorchester, secondary |
0.98 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 56 |
Hillside Community First School Verwood, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 57 |
Holy Trinity Church of England VC Primary School & Community Nursery Weymouth, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 58 |
Shaftesbury School Shaftesbury, secondary |
0.98 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 59 |
Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School Sherborne, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 60 |
Colehill First School Wimborne, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 61 |
The Blandford School Blandford Forum, secondary |
0.97 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 62 |
The Purbeck School Wareham, secondary |
0.97 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 63 |
The Sir John Colfox Academy Bridport, secondary |
0.97 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 64 |
Atlantic Academy Portland Portland, all through |
0.96 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 65 |
Milldown CofE Academy Blandford Forum, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 66 |
Spetisbury CofE Primary School Blandford Forum, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 67 |
Upton Infant School Poole, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 68 |
William Barnes Primary School Sturminster Newton, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 69 |
Wareham St Mary Church of England Primary School Wareham, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 70 |
Bere Regis Primary and Preschool Wareham, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 71 |
Burton Bradstock Church of England Voluntary Controlled School Bridport, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 72 |
Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School Shaftesbury, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 73 |
St Andrew's Church of England Primary School Weymouth, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Some aspects not as strong (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 74 |
Three Legged Cross First and Nursery School Wimborne, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 75 |
Sandford St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Wareham, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 76 |
Sherborne Primary School Sherborne, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 77 |
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford Abbas Sherborne, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 78 |
Stalbridge Church of England Primary School Stalbridge, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 79 |
The Woodroffe School Lyme Regis, secondary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 80 |
Motcombe CofE Primary School Shaftesbury, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 81 |
St John's Church of England First School, Wimborne Wimborne, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 82 |
Thorner's Church of England School, Litton Cheney Dorchester, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 83 |
Wey Valley Academy Weymouth, secondary |
0.92 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 84 |
All Saints' Church of England Academy Weymouth, secondary |
0.91 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 85 |
Cheselbourne Village School DORCHESTER, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 86 |
Broadmayne First School and Nursery Dorchester, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 87 |
Hayeswood First School Wimborne, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 88 |
Bridport Primary School Bridport, primary |
0.89 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 89 |
Downlands Community School Blandford Forum, primary |
0.88 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 90 |
St Andrew's Church of England Primary School Sherborne, primary |
0.88 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 91 |
St Andrew's Church of England Primary School Shaftesbury, primary |
0.88 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 92 |
Ferndown First School Ferndown, primary |
0.87 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 93 |
Radipole Primary School Weymouth, primary |
0.85 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 94 |
Stower Provost Community School Gillingham, primary |
0.85 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 95 |
Manor Park Church of England First School Dorchester, primary |
0.82 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 96 |
Verwood Church of England First School Verwood, primary |
0.82 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 97 |
Damers First School Dorchester, primary |
0.78 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 98 |
St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery Ferndown, primary |
0.76 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 99 |
Oakhurst Community First School Ferndown, primary |
0.75 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 100 |
Henbury View First School Wimborne, primary |
0.64 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 100 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.