GCSE 2025/26
#1,332 of 3,312
Similar to most schools in England
Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.
A-level 2024/25
#1,094 of 2,536
Similar to most schools in England
Ranked by average points per A-level entry.
Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 4 Feb 2025
Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 137163.
GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.
| Measure | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average. | 47.8, similar to England | - | 46.2 |
| Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass. | 70.3%, better than England | - | 64.8% |
| Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass. | 50.8%, better than England | - | 46.3% |
| Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade. | 10.1%, worse than England | - | 14.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 66.2%, better than England | - | 60.2% |
| Pupils at the end of key stage 4 | 435 | - | - |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.
| Measure | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10. | 34.81, similar to England | - | 35 |
| Average A-level grade | C+ | - | - |
| Average points, best three A-levels | 34.92, similar to England | - | 35.78 |
| Average grade, best three A-levels | C+ | - | - |
| AAB or better | 15.3%, similar to England | - | 17.5% |
| A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average. | 0.05, similar to England | - | - |
| A-level progress | Average, similar to England | - | - |
| Students at the end of 16 to 18 study | 373 | - | - |
| Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs. | Merit+ | - | - |
Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.
Pupils at the January school census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Total pupils | 2,014 |
| Girls | 1,091 |
| Boys | 923 |
| Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals. | 13.2% |
| First language not English | 6.8% |
| School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery. | 2,154 |
| Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken. | 6.5% |
| Sixth form places2024/25 | 900 |
| SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school. | 348 |
| EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs. | 85 |
| Average class size | 20.2 |
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 18 |
| Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants. | 12.7 |
| Teachers (FTE) | 112.06 |
| Teaching assistants (FTE) | 31.76 |
| Support staff (FTE) | 68.11 |
| Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25 | 118.3 |
| Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/25 | 106.3 |
| Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/25 | 2.2 |
| Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/25 | 9.8 |
Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.
Share of possible sessions missed.
| Measure | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall absence | 9.4%, worse than England | - | 8% |
| Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions. | 27.1%, worse than England | - | 21.6% |
| Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions. | 4.5%, worse than England | - | 3.6% |
Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Suspension rate | 13.2% |
| Pupils with one or more suspensions | 7.3% |
| Permanent exclusion rate | 0.2% |
| Permanent exclusions | 5 |
Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.
Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 95.2% |
| Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education. | 89.9% |
| School sixth form | 51.2% |
| Further education | 37.6% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 4% |
| Apprenticeship | 2.9% |
| Employment | 2.4% |
| Sixth form college | 0% |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 83.7% |
| Higher education | 37.6% |
| Employment | 33.8% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 12% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.7% |
| Further education | 3.3% |
Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.
| Distance | Phase | Name | Type | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 mi | Middle deemed secondary | Dorchester Middle School | Academy converter | Requires improvement Area360 rating. Inspected 2 Jun 2026. | |
| 0.3 mi | Primary | The Prince of Wales School | Community school | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 3 Jun 2025. | |
| 0.6 mi | Primary | Damers First School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 3 Oct 2017. | |
| 1.0 mi | Not applicable | Sunninghill Preparatory School | Other independent school | Unrated Unrated. | |
| 1.0 mi | Middle deemed secondary | St Osmund's Church of England Middle School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 5 Jul 2022. | |
| 1.1 mi | Primary | St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 13 Jul 2010. | |
| 1.1 mi | Primary | Manor Park Church of England First School | Academy sponsor led | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 13 Jan 2026. | |
| 1.7 mi | Primary | St Mary's Church of England First School, Charminster | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 25 Jun 2019. |
The Thomas Hardye School is rated Good, last inspected on 4 Feb 2025. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.
The Thomas Hardye School ranks 1,332 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools) and 1,094 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (similar to most schools).
In 2025/26, 50.8% of pupils at The Thomas Hardye School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 47.8 (England 46.2).
In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Thomas Hardye School was C+, and 15.3% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).
The Thomas Hardye School has 2,014 pupils aged 13 to 18.
The Thomas Hardye School had 2,154 school places in 2024/25.
Yes, The Thomas Hardye School has a sixth form with 900 places in 2024/25.
At The Thomas Hardye School, the average class had 20.2 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 18 pupils per teacher.
In 2025/26, pupils at The Thomas Hardye School missed 9.4% of sessions (England 8%), and 27.1% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).
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.