Classpot

Emmanuel Church of England Middle School

Dorset, BH31 6JFSecondaryAges 9–13MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Oct 2024
Progress 8
+0.61
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
N/A
No data
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#363 of 3,141 nationally

About Emmanuel Church of England Middle School

Emmanuel Church of England Middle School sits at the top of the secondary school rankings in Dorset, coming first out of 20 schools in the local authority when measured by Progress 8. That puts it ahead of its nearest peers: The Purbeck School, Lytchett Minster School, and Ferndown Upper School. It is the only secondary school in Dorset rated Outstanding by Ofsted, a grade it received in its most recent inspection in October 2024. The school serves pupils aged 9 to 13, a middle school model that is relatively uncommon nationally, and operates as a state-funded Church of England school. With 439 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,450, it is significantly undersubscribed, and 22.7 per cent of its students are eligible for free school meals. The headteacher is Rob Christopher.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range9 to 13 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressHowe Lane, Verwood, Dorset, BH31 6JF
HeadteacherRob Christopher
Local AuthorityDorset
Number of Pupils439
Free School Meals (FSM)22.7%
School Capacity439 / 1,450 (30% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 127 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

15 Oct 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 20 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

13
Tennis CourtsAstro TurfScience LabsICT SuitePlaying FieldsArt StudiosSixth Form CentreLibraryDining HallTheatreGymnasiumMusic RoomsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

18

Sports

FootballDanceRowingBasketballGymnasticsCross CountryHockeyCricketSwimmingNetball

Clubs & Activities

ChoirArt ClubYoung EnterpriseOrchestraGardeningEco ClubDuke of EdinburghModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Emmanuel Church of England Middle School

Emmanuel Church of England Middle School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.