Dorset Studio School, Dorchester

In its own words: "Dorset Studio School was created for young people who benefit from seeing a clear connection between education, practical experience and the world of work. It offers an ambitious education in which academic achievement and practical learning reinforce one another. Students are expected to work hard, take responsibility and develop the knowledge, confidence and personal qualities they will need beyond school."

In 2026, pupils at Dorset Studio School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 32, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.4 in Dorset and 47 across England.

13% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 39% in Dorset and 47% in England.

That is down from 34.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.5: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 31.5, against 32.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 0.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 10 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Travel and Tourism.

For September 2026 entry, 51 families put Dorset Studio School as their first choice and 99 named it as one of their preferences, for 51 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Dorset Studio School are St Osmund's Church of England Middle School (1.5 miles, Good); Dorchester Middle School (2.1 miles, Requires improvement); The Thomas Hardye School (2.3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 47.8); and St Mary's Church of England Middle School, Puddletown (3.1 miles, Good).

Dorset Studio School is run by its own single-school academy trust.

Of the 64 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 66% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 61% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 8% into work.

0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 136 pupils (41%) received SEN support and 33 (9.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

Dorset Studio School had 34 teachers in 2026, one for every 10 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Dorchester South Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dorset College of Agriculture (w-bound), 370 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 7 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, other theft and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Dorset (25).

In 2024/25, Dorset Studio School issued 137 suspensions, 42.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Dorset Studio School are St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester (1.3 miles); and Manor Park Church of England First School (1.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.