Sixth Forms / Dorset
Sixth Forms in Dorset
Browse 69 sixth forms and sixth-form colleges in Dorset. Compare A-Level results, entry requirements, Ofsted ratings and university destinations.
69 sixth forms in Dorset
Arbour House School
Weymouth · Special · Mixed
Bournemouth School
Bournemouth · Secondary · Boys
Bournemouth School for Girls
Bournemouth · Secondary · Girls
Aurora Boveridge College
Wimborne · Special · Mixed
Beaminster School
Beaminster · Secondary · Mixed
Beaucroft Foundation School
Wimborne · Special · Mixed
Cambian Wing College
Bournemouth · Special · Mixed
Corfe Hills School
Broadstone · Secondary · Mixed
Harbour School Dorset
Bovington · Special · Mixed
Magna Academy
Poole · Secondary · Mixed
Mountjoy School
Beaminster · Special · Mixed
Ringwood Waldorf School
Ringwood · All-through · Mixed
Shaftesbury School
Shaftesbury · Secondary · Mixed
St Peter's Catholic Comprehensive School
Bournemouth · All-through · Mixed
The Bishop of Winchester Academy
Bournemouth · Secondary · Mixed
The Blandford School
Blandford Forum · Secondary · Mixed
The Bournemouth and Poole College
Poole · Post-16 · Mixed
The Woodroffe School
Lyme Regis · Secondary · Mixed
Twynham School
Christchurch · Secondary · Mixed
Weymouth and Kingston Maurward College
Weymouth · Post-16 · Mixed
Budmouth Academy Weymouth
Weymouth · Secondary · Mixed
Queen Elizabeth's School
Wimborne · Secondary · Mixed
The Forum School
Blandford Forum · Special · Mixed
Avonbourne Girls Academy
Bournemouth · Secondary · Mixed
Bournemouth Collegiate School
Bournemouth · Senior · Mixed
Bryanston School
Blandford Forum · All-through · Mixed
Canford School
Wimborne · Senior · Mixed
Clayesmore School
Blandford Forum · All-through · Mixed
Dorchester Learning Centre
Dorchester · PRU · Mixed
Employ My Ability (EMA) Ltd
Dorchester · Special · Mixed
Ferndown Upper School
Ferndown · Secondary · Mixed
Gillingham School
Gillingham · Secondary · Mixed
Highcliffe School
Christchurch · Secondary · Mixed
Kings Bournemouth
Bournemouth · Senior · Mixed
Langside School
Poole · Special · Mixed
LeAF Studio
Bournemouth · Secondary · Mixed
Leweston School
Sherborne · All-through · Mixed
Linwood School
Bournemouth · Special · Mixed
Lytchett Minster School
Poole · Secondary · Mixed
Millie College
Holton Heath · Special · Mixed
Milton Abbey School
Blandford Forum · Senior · Mixed
Montacute School
Poole · Special · Mixed
Parkstone Grammar School
Poole · Secondary · Girls
Poole Grammar School
Poole · Secondary · Boys
Poole High School
Poole · Secondary · Mixed
Portfield School
Christchurch · Special · Mixed
Sheiling College
Ringwood, Hants · Special · Mixed
Sheiling School
Ringwood · Special · Mixed
Sherborne School
Sherborne · Senior · Boys
Sherborne School for Girls
Sherborne · Senior · Girls
South West Regional Assessment Centre
Wimborne · Special · Mixed
St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole
Poole · Secondary · Mixed
Sturminster Newton High School
Sturminster Newton · Secondary · Mixed
Talbot Heath School
Bournemouth · All-through · Mixed
The Bourne Academy
Bournemouth · Secondary · Mixed
The Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy
Christchurch · Special · Mixed
The Grange School
Christchurch · Secondary · Mixed
The Gryphon School
Sherborne · Secondary · Mixed
The Lion Works School
Poole · Special · Mixed
The Luccombe Hub
Blandford Forum · Special · Mixed
The Purbeck School
Wareham · Secondary · Mixed
The Quay School
Poole · All-through · Mixed
The Sir John Colfox Academy
Bridport · Secondary · Mixed
The Thomas Hardye School
Dorchester · Secondary · Mixed
Victoria Education Centre
Poole · Special · Mixed
Westfield Arts College
Weymouth · Special · Mixed
Winchelsea School
Poole · Special · Mixed
Wyvern Academy
Weymouth · Special · Mixed
Yewstock School
Sturminster Newton · Special · Mixed
About sixth forms in Dorset
Sixth forms in Dorset provide 16-18 education through school sixth forms and dedicated sixth-form or further education colleges, each offering a different mix of A-Levels, T-Levels and BTECs. Entry requirements are set by each institution and typically depend on GCSE grades - most ask for at least five passes at grade 4 or above, with higher grades required for individual subjects. Course availability varies considerably across sixth forms in Dorset, so it is worth checking whether the specific A-Level or vocational subjects you want are actually on offer before you apply. Open evenings in the autumn term of Year 11 are the best chance to ask questions in person and compare the teaching environment, support offer and facilities.
When comparing sixth forms in Dorset, start with A-Level results - the average points per entry and grades at AAB or above give a consistent measure to work with across different institutions. Look at university destinations too: progression to Russell Group universities and the quality of UCAS guidance can vary significantly between a school sixth form and a standalone sixth-form college. Application deadlines in Dorset typically fall in the winter of Year 11, so shortlist early, attend open evenings and use School Signal to compare the data in one place.
Choosing a school in Dorset
Whether or not Dorset has schools of a particular type, the same fundamentals help you compare your options. Ofsted judgements - Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate - summarise the quality of education, behaviour, personal development and leadership. A rating is a useful starting point, but bear in mind that some schools have not been inspected for several years and that a single word cannot capture everything about a school.
For secondary schools, Progress 8 is often more revealing than raw results. It measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, so a school serving a less advantaged community can still post strong progress. Attainment 8 shows average achievement across eight GCSEs, and the percentage of pupils reaching grade 5 or above in English and maths is a useful benchmark. For 16-18 study, look at A-Level and applied-course results and where students go next.
Beyond the data, look at how places are allocated when a school is oversubscribed and whether your address is likely to secure one, the range of subjects and activities on offer, the sixth-form provision if you are planning ahead, and travel and transport. Above all, visit. An open day tells you more about a school's atmosphere, pastoral care and whether it will suit your child than any league table can.
Frequently asked questions
How many sixth forms are there in Dorset?
There are 69 sixth forms in Dorset listed on School Signal, of which 20 are rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted.
Which sixth form in Dorset has the best Ofsted rating?
Arbour House School is among the highest rated sixth forms in Dorset, judged Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection.
What grades do I need for sixth form in Dorset?
Most sixth forms in Dorset ask for a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Maths, though the exact threshold varies by institution. Individual A-Level subjects typically have their own grade requirements - sciences, Maths and languages often ask for a 6 or 7 in the relevant GCSE. Some sixth forms in Dorset set higher overall entry thresholds, particularly those with strong university progression records, so always check the specific entry offer on each school's page.