Gillingham School has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now Gillingham School.
Gillingham School, Gillingham
Gillingham School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Gillingham. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2023. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 3rd-highest of the 7 schools in Gillingham with published results, and 1,493rd of 3,298 across England. It was 91% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
- Progress (2024)
- Below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 4 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Dorset (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Gillingham School in detail
Gillingham School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, basketball, badminton, yoga, dance and drama.
Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 19 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Dorset
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at Gillingham School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.4 in Dorset and 47 across England.
45% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 39% in Dorset and 47% in England.
That is up from 42.7 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.18: pupils made 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 35.7, against 49.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.7 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.
Getting a place at Gillingham School
For September 2026 entry, 284 families put Gillingham School as their first choice and 369 named it as one of their preferences, for 265 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 23 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Gillingham School are Gillingham School (under 0.1 miles); and Shaftesbury School (4.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.1).
Where pupils go next
Of the 282 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 34% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.
Of the 178 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 35% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 35% into work. 19% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 90 pupils (5.3%) received SEN support and 82 (4.9%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Gillingham (Dorset) Rail Station, about 560 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School and Leisure Centre (e-bound), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 51 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Dorset (25), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Gillingham School issued 196 suspensions, 11.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2023 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Sixth form.
About
Gillingham School is a coeducational school situated in Gillingham in North Dorset, England. Gillingham Grammar School can trace its foundation back to 1516.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
18.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has remained stable at around -0.18 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 46.1 to 46.8 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has remained stable at around 45% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 46.8 | 44.8% |
| Disadvantaged(52) | - | 35.7 | 23.1% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(229) | - | 49.4 | 49.8% |
| Boys(139) | - | 45.2 | 43.9% |
| Girls(142) | - | 48.4 | 45.8% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(6) | - | 51.7 | 33.3% |
| Non mobile(272) | - | 47.6 | 46.3% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 5 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 282 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
3
Permanent exclusions
0.18%
Exclusion rate
196
Suspensions
11.74%
Suspension rate
84 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,670 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with Gillingham School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Gillingham School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Gillingham School is in Dorset; for families living there:
Apply to Dorset for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Gillingham School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
91%
Near capacity
1,659 pupils
1,820 places
161 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Gillingham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Gillingham
Across Dorset council
Places available
2,797
Applications
2,105
Got 1st preference
97.9%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All secondary applications across Dorset council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
90
SEN Support
82
EHC Plans
10.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,684
Total Pupils
859
Boys
825
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
110
Teachers
15.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,802
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,839
Per pupil
£9996k
Total funding
£293k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.5%
Overall absence
26.1%
Persistent absence
1,416
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Gillingham School
What are GCSE results like at Gillingham School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Gillingham School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 46.8. 45% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Gillingham School's Ofsted rating?
Gillingham School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2023.
What is the catchment area for Gillingham School?
No fixed boundary. When Gillingham School is oversubscribed, Dorset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Gillingham School?
Gillingham School was not full in 2025: it ran at 91% of its 1820 places.
How big are the classes at Gillingham School?
Classes at Gillingham School average 21.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Gillingham School?
Gillingham School has around 1684 pupils on roll. 19% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Gillingham School?
9.5% of sessions were missed at Gillingham School in 2024/25. 26.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Gillingham School?
Apply through Dorset's coordinated admissions process, naming Gillingham School on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
Where is Gillingham School?
Gillingham School is at Hardings Lane, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QP.