Budmouth Academy Weymouth
83%
Capacity
1,499
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Budmouth Academy Weymouth
Budmouth Academy Weymouth is a large secondary school in Dorset, currently educating 1,499 pupils against a capacity of 1,800, meaning it operates with some headroom. The school serves a community with a notably high level of disadvantage: 27.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average for secondary schools. Demand for places is strong, with 409 applications for 244 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.68. Of those, 270 were first-preference applications, and all 244 places went to first-preference offers, indicating that while the school is popular locally, it is not so oversubscribed that families cannot secure a place if they prioritise it. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and has no religious character, making it a straightforward option for families across the area.
Academically, Budmouth faces significant challenges. Its Progress 8 score of -0.62 is rated as 'well below average' and places it 19th out of 20 secondary schools in Dorset, with a local authority average of -0.09. This means pupils typically achieve nearly two-thirds of a grade less per subject than their peers nationally. The Attainment 8 score sits at 39.9, and just 31.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. In the most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024, the school was rated Requires Improvement overall, though behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision were all judged Good. The sixth form is a relative bright spot: its value-added score of -0.44 is below average, but the school offers a Good-rated sixth-form centre, and 95 pupils took A-levels in the 2023/24 year, achieving an average grade of C- per entry.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sixth-form centre, sports hall, gymnasium, tennis courts, and playing fields, with sports such as cricket, rowing, and hockey on offer. There is a strong extracurricular programme with clubs including coding, debate, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and eco club. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. Budmouth is best suited to families who value a large, inclusive secondary with a good sixth form and a wide choice of activities, but who are realistic about its current academic performance and the ongoing improvements needed in teaching and leadership.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Chickerell Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9SY |
| Headteacher | Sara Mashike |
| Local Authority | Dorset |
| Number of Pupils | 1,499 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,499 / 1,800 (83% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 12 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.62)
2764th of 3,141
Nationally
280th of 306
In South West
19th of 20
In Dorset
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
31.7
'22/23
28.0
'23/24
27.4
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2335%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 115 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
17%
Russell Group
16%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- Employment37%
- University (HE)35%
- Not sustained11%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Further education4%
- Other education3%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed244
409
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
270 families put this school as their 1st choice (66% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.9%
- White (other)5.3%
- Mixed2.6%
- Asian1.3%
- Black0.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Budmouth Academy Weymouth
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Chickerell Road, Weymouth
Dorset, DT4 9SY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Budmouth Academy Weymouth!
Write a Review