Shaftesbury School, Shaftesbury

In 2026, pupils at Shaftesbury School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.4 in Dorset and 47 across England.

25% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 39% in Dorset and 47% in England.

That is up from 39.1 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 31.8, against 42.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 95 families put Shaftesbury School as their first choice and 167 named it as one of their preferences, for 108 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Shaftesbury School are Gillingham School (4.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.8); and Gillingham School (4.3 miles).

Shaftesbury School is one of 18 schools run by Sherborne Area Schools' Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 137 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 85% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 28% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 7% into work.

Of the 89 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 28% went on to university or other higher education, 8% to apprenticeships and 37% into work. 16% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

7.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Shaftesbury School.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Shaftesbury School (ne-bound), 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Shaftesbury School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 56 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Dorset (25), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Shaftesbury School issued 126 suspensions, 14.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Shaftesbury School are The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury (0.6 miles); and Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.