Sturminster Newton High School, Sturminster Newton
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Sturminster Newton High School creates a caring, close-knit community where your child will feel known and supported. The school excels at identifying individual needs - whether academic, pastoral or related to mental health - and provides tailored help. With strong behavior expectations, good teaching across most subjects, and excellent enrichment activities, your child will be well-prepared for their next steps in education or work.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve well with secure understanding of reading, writing and mathematics, in line with national averages at GCSE and post-16
- Positive behavior and strong sense of community with respectful relationships between pupils and staff
- Comprehensive support for pupils' mental health and wellbeing, including a dedicated hub
- Effective inclusion practices with strong support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
- High-quality professional learning for staff and stable, committed leadership
Areas for Improvement
- Written work quality is not consistently high across all subjects - some lacks depth and detail
- Teaching consistency varies across some subjects and key stages when checking pupil understanding
- Attendance rates, though improving, remain lower than national averages
- A small number of academic subjects at post-16 need refinement in teaching delivery
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders and governors have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Sport clubs, crochet group, whole-school drama productions, community volunteering (cheese festival), Ten Tors Challenge, key stage 3 activities week, careers events, work experience, university outreach programmes, school council, leadership opportunities
Sturminster Newton High School is a small, well-led community school where pupils feel safe and supported. The school has stabilized its leadership in recent years and maintains high expectations across all areas.
At a Glance
30.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
20.6
Avg class size
28
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
67%
Available places
605 pupils
900 capacity
295 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Sturminster Newton
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Sturminster Newton
Admissions Demand - Dorset
Places available
2,822
Applications
2,234
Got 1st preference
96.1%
Got preferred school
98.4%
Secondary admissions across Dorset (2025/26)
Inspection History(2)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.90356%
Overall absence
29.20354%
Persistent absence
565
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Sturminster Newton High School
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.