Classpot

Gillingham School

Dorset, SP8 4QPSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2023
Progress 8
-0.18
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
244 1st-choice / 253 places
Ranking
#1,971
of 3,141 nationally

About Gillingham School

Gillingham School holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained consistently across its two most recent inspections, the latest of which took place in 2023. The school’s Progress 8 score sits at -0.18, which places it in the ‘Below average’ national banding and ranks it 12th out of 20 secondary schools in the Dorset local authority. This score is slightly below the Dorset average Progress 8 of -0.09, meaning that, on the whole, pupils at Gillingham make less academic progress from Key Stage 2 to GCSE than their peers across the county. The Attainment 8 score of 45.7 gives a clearer picture of raw achievement, while 66.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, and 45% achieved a grade 5 or above in those core subjects. The school also has a strong focus on the English Baccalaureate, with 65.6% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects, though only 18.1% achieved the higher grade 5 threshold in those subjects.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressHardings Lane, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QP
HeadteacherPaul Nicholson
Local AuthorityDorset
Number of Pupils1,670
Free School Meals (FSM)19.9%
School Capacity1,670 / 1,850 (90% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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)
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    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

10 May 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 4 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Art StudiosLibraryICT SuiteAstro TurfSwimming PoolGymnasiumDining HallSports HallSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

20

Sports

TennisDanceMartial ArtsFootballNetballCross CountrySwimmingBadmintonRugbyAthletics

Clubs & Activities

Model United NationsScience ClubDebateChoirNewspaperDuke of EdinburghGardeningFilm ClubArt ClubYoung Enterprise

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.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:20

Source: gillingham-dorset.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Gillingham School

Gillingham School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.