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Gillingham School

Gillingham School

Dorset, SP8 4QPSecondary School·Ages 11-18
Goodby Ofsted

90%

Capacity

1,670

Pupils

1.3x

Demand

About Gillingham School

Gillingham School is a state-funded None secondary school serving the Dorset community, welcoming children from age 11 to 18. The school has 1,670 pupils on roll and is well-filled (90% of 1,850 places).

Ofsted has rated Gillingham School "Good", the school is led by headteacher Paul Nicholson, it falls under Dorset local authority.

In terms of academic performance, its Progress 8 score of -0.18 is below the national average. Additionally, Attainment 8 is solid at 45.7. Additionally, sixth form students achieve an average A-Level grade of C+. Additionally, ranked 1971st out of 3,141 schools in England. Additionally, 12th out of 20 in Dorset.

Gillingham School is a popular choice with families — it received 320 applications for 253 places, making it 1.3x oversubscribed. Of these, 244 were first-preference applications.

For children with special educational needs, the school offers support across 9 areas, including Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia), Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional & Mental Health and 6 more. Parents should contact the school's SENCO for specific details about provision.

On-site facilities at Gillingham School include Art Studios, Library, ICT Suite, Astro Turf, Swimming Pool, Gymnasium, Dining Hall, Sports Hall, Sixth Form Centre.

Beyond the classroom, pupils can take part in sports such as Tennis, Dance, Martial Arts, Football and 6 more, as well as clubs including Model UN, Science Club, Debate, Choir and 6 more.

The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 19.9%, which is close to the national average for secondary schools in England.

For families exploring secondary schools in Dorset, Gillingham School is one of the options available in the South West region. Use Classpot to compare it side-by-side with nearby alternatives and find the best fit for your child.

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

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

10 May 2023
View Report

Overall Effectiveness

Good

Unchanged
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Additional Provisions

Sixth Form Provision
Good

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

League Table Position

Based on Progress 8 (-0.18)

1971st of 3,141

Nationally

Top 63%

204th of 306

In South West

Top 67%

12th of 20

In Dorset

Top 60%

Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data

GCSE Results

2023/24

Progress 8 Score

-0.18Below Average

Students make less progress than similar students nationally

BelowAverageAbove

Attainment 8 (vs national avg)

+45.7Well Above Average

Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average

BelowAverageAbove
Grade 9-4 (Standard Pass)66%
Grade 9-5 (Strong Pass)45%

Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.

A-Level Results

2023/24
161 students

Average Points per Entry

32.8Grade C+

Value Added Score

+0.04Average
BelowAverageAbove

Best 3 A-Levels (Average)

32.9Grade C+
AAB or higher (inc. 2 facilitating)14%
Avg Points per Entry over timeStable +0.7

'21/22

33.9

'22/23

30.4

'23/24

32.8

Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

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.

Admissions

2025/26Oversubscribed
Places

253

Applications

320

Balanced

Applications roughly match available places

Applications to places ratio1.3x
0x1x2x3x5x+

244 families put this school as their 1st choice (76% of all applications)

Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.

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.

Contact Information

01747822222www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/

Hardings Lane, Gillingham

Dorset, SP8 4QP

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Hardings Lane, Gillingham

Dorset, SP8 4QP

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Opening Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

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