The Blandford School
| Type | Secondary / Voluntary controlled school |
| Age Range | 11-18 |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Address | Milldown Road Blandford Forum Dorset DT11 7SQ |
| Phone | 01258451121 |
| Reference Number | 113888 |
The Blandford School demonstrates solid overall performance, achieving a 'Good' rating in all key aspects of education, behavior, personal development, leadership, and sixth-form provision. Since its previous inspection, which noted areas for improvement, the school has made significant advancements, particularly in its curriculum and support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The strong pastoral support, combined with a culture that fosters positive relationships, contributes to a nurturing environment for students. However, there are areas that need further attention, particularly regarding the active participation of students in extracurricular activities and addressing instances of low-level disruption in classrooms.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 1135 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 51.19%
Girls: 48.81% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 20.5% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 5.9% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 21.2 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 90 | 101 | 191 |
| 8 | 128 | 106 | 234 |
| 9 | 99 | 101 | 200 |
| 10 | 109 | 86 | 195 |
| 11 | 96 | 85 | 181 |
| 12 | 35 | 35 | 70 |
| 13 | 24 | 40 | 64 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 91.5% |
| White, Other | 3% |
| Asian, Other | 1.4% |
| White & Asian | 1.1% |
| Indian | 0.9% |
| Mixed, Other | 0.4% |
| Unclassified | 0.3% |
| Irish | 0.3% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.2% |
| African | 0.1% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| > Quality of education | Good |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Good |
| > Personal Development | Good |
| > Leadership & Management | Good |
| > Sixth Form Provision | Good |
| Last Report Date | 23 Apr 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 23 Apr 2024 | School inspection: |
| 02 Feb 2023 | Monitoring visit |
| 12 Oct 2021 | School inspection: |
| 17 Jan 2018 | Full inspection: |
| 02 Mar 2015 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 11 Oct 2012 | Full inspection: |
| 22 Mar 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 17 Nov 2009 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 16 Jan 2008 | Full inspection: |
| 06 Oct 2003 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Strong pastoral support with positive relationships between staff and pupils.
- Broad and ambitious curriculum offering a full range of subjects for all pupils.
- Effective support for pupils with SEND, enabling them to overcome barriers to learning.
- High expectations for behavior leading to mostly calm and orderly classrooms.
- Development of a culture of reading with well-organized support for struggling readers.
- Well-planned careers provision linked to subjects, aiding pupils in their future aspirations.
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent use of assessment strategies leading to gaps in some pupils' knowledge.
- Low participation rates in extracurricular activities limiting student development.
- Occasional low-level disruption not being managed promptly.
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
- English
- Maths
- 3 subjects from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), like sciences, language and history
- 3 more GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or technical awards from a list approved by the Department for Education
Each grade a pupil gets is assigned a point score from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest). These scores are added up, with English and maths counted twice.
| School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|
| 47 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 46.2% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 63.2% |
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
Sample
UnlockGCSE Results
Sample
UnlockPoints
| Points | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Points | 36.73 | ||
| Average Points (best 3) | 37.46 |
Grades
| School | Local | Nationwide | |
| Average Grade | B- | C+ | C+ |
| Average Grade (best 3) | B- | C+ | C+ |
| Percentage | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students getting AAB or better | 17.4% |
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 19 | 4 |
| Third Preference | 7 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 2 | 1 |
Previous Years
Sample
UnlockDestinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | |
| > Further Education | |
| > School Sixth Form | |
| > Sixth Form College | |
| > Other Education | |
| Apprenticeships | |
| Employment | |
| Not in education or employment | |
| Unknown |
| Name | Distance |
|
Milldown CofE Academy
Milldown Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7SN |
0.29 miles |
|
Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School
Black Lane, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8SW |
0.76 miles |
|
Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School
Birch Avenue, Blandford St Mary, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 9QD |
0.93 miles |
|
Durweston Church of England Primary School
Durweston, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0QA |
1.76 miles |
|
Pimperne Church of England VC Primary School
Newfield Road, Pimperne, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8WF |
2.25 miles |
|
Downlands Community School
Blandford Camp, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8BG |
2.52 miles |
|
Spetisbury CofE Primary School
High Street, Spetisbury, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 9DF |
3.07 miles |
|
Hanford School
Child Okeford, Blandford Forum, DT11 8HN |
3.45 miles |
|
Shillingstone Church of England Primary School
Augustan Avenue, Shillingstone, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0TX |
3.88 miles |
|
St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Child Okeford
Station Road, Child Okeford, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8EL |
4.51 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Bryanston School
Bryanston, Blandford Forum, DT11 0PX |
0.74 miles |
|
The Forum School
Shillingstone, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0QS |
4.64 miles |
|
Clayesmore School
Iwerne Minster, Blandford Forum, DT11 8LL |
4.96 miles |