Dorchester Middle School
| Type | Secondary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 9-13 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Queen's Avenue Dorchester Dorset DT1 2HS |
| Phone | 01305265651 |
| Reference Number | 138186 |
Dorchester Middle School is currently rated as requiring improvement across several key areas. Leaders have begun to raise expectations for pupils, embracing values of being 'Ready, Original, Ambitious, Respectful, and Safe.' While most pupils enjoy school and are engaged in activities, there are concerns regarding the behaviour of a minority and the effectiveness of the curriculum. Though the school has made some progress, the curriculum needs refinement to ensure that all pupils develop a strong foundation in essential knowledge and skills, particularly in reading. The school has also identified mental health support as a priority, responding to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 543 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 50.28%
Girls: 49.72% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 23.6% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 17.7% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 25.6 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 65 | 65 | 130 |
| 6 | 58 | 72 | 130 |
| 7 | 75 | 61 | 136 |
| 8 | 75 | 72 | 147 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 77.3% |
| Indian | 7.6% |
| White, Other | 3.5% |
| Asian, Other | 2% |
| White & Asian | 1.7% |
| African | 1.5% |
| Mixed, Other | 0.9% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.7% |
| Unclassified | 0.7% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.4% |
| Caribbean | 0.4% |
| Pakistani | 0.4% |
| Chinese | 0.2% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Requires Improvement |
| > Quality of education | Requires Improvement |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Requires Improvement |
| > Personal Development | Good |
| > Leadership & Management | Requires Improvement |
| Last Report Date | 13 Jun 2023 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 27 Nov 2024 | Monitoring visit |
| 13 Jun 2023 | School inspection: |
| 21 May 2019 | Full inspection: |
| 15 Nov 2018 | Short inspection |
| 27 Mar 2014 | Full inspection: |
| 10 Aug 2012 | Academy conversion letter |
| 08 Jun 2011 | Full inspection: |
| Previously as Dorchester Middle School | |
| 08 Jun 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 25 Jun 2008 | Full inspection: |
| 25 Jun 2008 | Full inspection: |
| 28 Nov 2006 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 28 Nov 2006 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 02 Jun 2003 | Full inspection |
| 02 Jun 2003 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Pupils enjoy opportunities to take on positions of responsibility.
- Pupils appreciate having a voice in school decisions.
- The curriculum includes a focus on mental health and well-being.
- Good attendance and punctuality among pupils.
- Effective safeguarding arrangements in place.
Areas for Improvement
- Expectations of learning are not consistently high.
- Curriculum planning lacks precise definitions of necessary knowledge and skills.
- Early reading support is insufficient for some pupils.
- Inconsistent handling of bullying and respect among pupils.
- Professional development for teachers has not resulted in sufficient improvements.
How many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 49% | ||
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 5% |
Average Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
| Subject | School | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 104 | ||
| Maths | 101 |
Progress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | -1.6 | ||
| Writing | -3.6 | ||
| Maths | -5.2 |
How many students meet the standards
Sample
UnlockAverage Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
Sample
UnlockProgress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
Sample
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