School profile

The Blandford School

Secondary · Voluntary controlled school · Blandford Forum, DT11 7SQ

Good

Map showing The Blandford School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#2,150 of 3,312

Worse than 64% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#736 of 2,536

Better than 70% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Blandford School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 23 Apr 2024

Ofsted rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeVoluntary controlled school
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,103 of 1,513 places
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Alan Jones
Local authorityDorset
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 113888.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolDorsetEngland
Attainment 8 score43.2-46.2
Grade 4 or above in English and maths59.7%-64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and maths37.1%-46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and maths7.5%-14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths54.3%-60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4186--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolDorsetEngland
Average points per A-level entry37.21-35
Average A-level gradeB---
Average points, best three A-levels37.46-35.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB---
AAB or better17.4%-17.5%
A-level progress score0.24--
A-level progressAbove average--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study85--
Average applied general gradeDist*---

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26
MeasureThis school
Pupils1,103
Girls556
Boys547
Eligible for free school meals19.9%
First language not English6.3%
SEN support82
EHC plan38
Average class size20.8

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Pupils ethnicity

White British
90.8%
Other White
3.1%
Other Asian
1.6%
White and Asian
1.2%
Indian
1%
Other mixed
0.5%
Gypsy/Roma
0.4%
White and Black African
0.3%
Irish
0.2%
Bangladeshi
0.2%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed. Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means missing 50% or more.

MeasureThis schoolDorsetEngland
Overall absence8.6%-8%
Persistent absence20.8%-21.6%
Severe absence5%-3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)202
Applications (Year 7)231
First preference applications (Year 7)199
First preference offers (Year 7)199
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)0

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Capacity

2024/25
MeasureThis school
School places1,513
Pupils on roll1,124
Unfilled places25.7%
Sixth form places200
Sixth form pupils on roll132

Source: DfE, School capacity, Academic year 2024/25, published 19 Mar 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26
MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher15.4
Pupils per adult12.2
Teachers (FTE)71.76
Teaching assistants (FTE)9.58
Support staff (FTE)35.31
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2570.4
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2564
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/253
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/253.4

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25
MeasureThis school
Suspension rate12.8%
Pupils with one or more suspensions5.4%
Permanent exclusion rate0.3%
Permanent exclusions3

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destination91.9%
Staying in education83.3%
School sixth form45.7%
Further education36.6%
Not sustained7%
Apprenticeship5.4%
Employment3.2%
Sixth form college0%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destination86.2%
Higher education46.6%
Employment34.5%
Not sustained10.3%
Apprenticeship3.4%
Further education1.7%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Blandford School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.3 miPrimaryMilldown CofE AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.7 miNot applicableBryanston SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.8 miPrimaryArchbishop Wake Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.9 miPrimaryBlandford St Mary Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.8 miPrimaryDurweston Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding

Frequently asked questions about The Blandford School

What is The Blandford School's Ofsted rating?

The Blandford School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 23 Apr 2024.

How does The Blandford School rank in England?

The Blandford School ranks 2,150 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 64% of schools) and 736 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 70% of schools).

How many pupils attend The Blandford School?

The Blandford School has 1,103 pupils aged 11 to 18, with capacity for 1,513.

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.