Schools in Dorset
132 schools with published admissions figures
Page 2 of 3. Showing 60 of 132 schools.
The newest figures for each school. "1st prefs per place" is how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out. It measures demand, not whether a child would get a place. A dash means the figure is not available.
How the 2026 round went in Dorset
Primary
-
Offered their first choice
93.9%
Of families applying for a primary place for September 2026.
-
Offered one of their three
99.0%
Families offered any of the schools they named.
-
Families who applied
2,795
Applications received for a primary place. A family naming three schools counts once.
For September 2026, 93.9% of families applying for a primary place here were offered their first choice, and 99.0% were offered one of the three schools they named.
The council's primary schools between them had 3,692 places for 2,795 applications. That is a total for the whole council and says nothing about any one school in it.
Secondary
-
Offered their first choice
97.9%
Of families applying for a secondary place for September 2026.
-
Offered one of their three
99.0%
Families offered any of the schools they named.
-
Families who applied
2,105
Applications received for a secondary place. A family naming three schools counts once.
For September 2026, 97.9% of families applying for a secondary place here were offered their first choice, and 99.0% were offered one of the three schools they named.
The council's secondary schools between them had 2,797 places for 2,105 applications. That is a total for the whole council and says nothing about any one school in it.
Source: Department for Education, applications and offers. The same round across England.
If a family is refused a place
In 2026, families in Dorset lodged 120 appeals about a school place.
85 of them were heard by a panel and 28 succeeded, which is about 33 in every 100 heard.
The other 35 did not reach a panel. Most appeals that do not are withdrawn because a place comes up first.
This is a record of decisions already made. A panel hears one case at a time and decides it on what that family sets out, so these figures do not indicate what would happen in any particular appeal.
Source: Department for Education, admission appeals in England, reporting year 2026. Counts every school in this council area. The share that succeeded is taken over appeals heard by a panel, not over appeals lodged.
Primary
| School | 1st prefs per place | Demand since | Latest Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School
Sherborne |
0.93 | - | Expected standard Ofsted report card (current framework) |
| Sherborne Primary School
Sherborne |
1.02 | - | Expected standard Ofsted report card (current framework) |
| Shillingstone Church of England Primary School
Blandford Forum |
- | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Sixpenny Handley First School and Nursery
Salisbury |
1.00 | - | School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| Southill Primary School
Weymouth |
0.97 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Spetisbury CofE Primary School
Blandford Forum |
0.90 | - | School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| St Andrew's Church of England Primary School
Shaftesbury |
0.93 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St Andrew's Church of England Primary School
Sherborne |
0.94 | - | Needs attention Ofsted report card (current framework) |
| St Andrew's Church of England Primary School
Weymouth |
0.71 | - | Some aspects not as strong Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, Weymouth
Weymouth |
1.00 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St Catherine's Roman Catholic School
Bridport |
1.00 | - | Needs attention Ofsted report card (current framework) |
| St George's Church of England Primary School, Langton Matravers
Swanage |
1.00 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St George's Church of England School, Bourton
Gillingham |
1.00 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St George's Foundation Primary School
Portland |
1.00 | - | Expected standard Ofsted report card (current framework) |
| St Gregory's Church of England Primary School, Marnhull
Sturminster Newton |
- | - | Requires improvement Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St Ives Primary & Nursery School
Ringwood |
1.07 | - | Outstanding Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St James Church of England First School
Wimborne |
1.00 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St James' Church of England First School and Nursery, Alderholt
Fordingbridge |
1.00 | - | School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| St John's Church of England First School, Wimborne
Wimborne |
0.60 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St John's Church of England Primary School
Weymouth |
1.00 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St Mary & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Wareham |
- | - | Requires improvement Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School
Gillingham |
1.00 | - | School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester
Dorchester |
1.14 | - | School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull
Sturminster Newton |
- | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage
Swanage |
1.00 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St Mary's Church of England First School, Charminster
Dorchester |
1.10 | - | none held |
| St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford Abbas
Sherborne |
- | - | Expected standard Ofsted report card (current framework) |
| St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery
Ferndown |
1.10 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St Michael's CofE Primary School, Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis |
- | - | Requires improvement Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Child Okeford
Blandford Forum |
0.95 | - | Needs attention Ofsted report card (current framework) |
| St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary School
Weymouth |
1.27 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Stalbridge Church of England Primary School
Stalbridge |
1.00 | - | School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Dorchester |
1.00 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Stoborough Church of England Primary School
Wareham |
1.00 | - | School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| Stower Provost Community School
Gillingham |
0.92 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Sturminster Marshall First School
Wimborne |
0.53 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Swanage Primary School
Swanage |
1.00 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Swanage St Mark's Church of England Primary School
Swanage |
- | - | School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| Symondsbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Bridport |
0.93 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury |
0.97 | - | School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| The Prince of Wales School
Dorchester |
1.28 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Thorncombe, St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy
Thorncombe |
- | - | Requires improvement Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Thorner's Church of England School, Litton Cheney
Dorchester |
1.00 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Thornford CofE Primary School
Sherborne |
1.13 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Three Legged Cross First and Nursery School
Wimborne |
0.75 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Trent Young's CofE Primary School
Sherborne |
1.25 | - | Standards maintained Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| Trinity Church of England First School
Verwood |
1.20 | - | Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Upton Infant School
Poole |
0.89 | - | School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| Verwood Church of England First School
Verwood |
0.97 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Wareham St Mary Church of England Primary School
Wareham |
1.00 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| William Barnes Primary School
Sturminster Newton |
1.00 | - | School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| Wimborne First School and Nursery
Wimborne |
1.20 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Wimborne St Giles Church of England First School and Nursery
Wimborne |
1.00 | - | School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection |
| Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School
Dorchester |
0.92 | - | Expected standard Ofsted report card (current framework) |
| Witchampton Church of England First School
Wimborne |
0.92 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Wool Church of England Primary School
Wareham |
1.13 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Wyke Primary School
Gillingham |
1.00 | - | Requires improvement Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Wyke Regis Infant School and Nursery
Weymouth |
0.96 | - | Standards maintained Ofsted ungraded inspection |
Secondary
| School | 1st prefs per place | Demand since | Latest Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Saints' Church of England Academy
Weymouth |
1.00 | - | Requires improvement Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
| Beaminster School
Beaminster |
0.99 | - | Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework) |
Elsewhere
- Most sought-after schools in Dorset by first preferences per place
- Schools in BH16 (4)
- Schools in BH19 (5)
- Schools in BH20 (10)
- Schools in BH21 (15)
- Schools in BH22 (4)
- Schools in BH24 (5)
- Schools in BH31 (3)
- Schools in DT1 (4)
- Schools in DT10 (6)
- Schools in DT11 (12)
- Schools in DT2 (13)
- Schools in DT3 (7)
- Schools in DT4 (9)
- Schools in DT6 (11)
- Schools in DT7 (3)
- Schools in DT8 (4)
- Schools in DT9 (10)
- Schools in SP5 (13)
- Schools in SP6 (7)
- Schools in SP7 (7)
- Schools in SP8 (6)
- Schools in TA20 (9)
- What data we hold