Sturminster Newton High School
69%
Capacity
617
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Sturminster Newton High School
Sturminster Newton High School holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained since its most recent graded inspection in 2015 and confirmed as remaining Good in an ungraded inspection in 2018. The school’s most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of -0.39, which places it in the ‘Below average’ banding nationally. This means that, on average, pupils achieve nearly half a grade less per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. In the local context, this is a weaker result than the Dorset local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.09, and it ranks Sturminster Newton 16th out of 20 secondary schools in the county. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 42.2, and 45.8% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. Just 17.8% secured the EBacc at grade 5 or above, though a high 76.6% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects.
At Key Stage 5, the sixth form is a smaller operation with 36 pupils in the data. The average A-level grade per entry is a C, with a points-per-entry score of 30.34. The value added score for the sixth form is -0.06, which is banded as ‘Average’, meaning students here make progress broadly in line with similar students nationally. The best three A-levels average out at a grade C, worth 31.21 points. The school’s Progress 8 banding of ‘Below average’ and its ranking in the bottom 50% nationally (77.7th percentile) suggest that while the school is not among the highest performers academically, it provides a stable, Good-rated environment for students who may not be targeting the most selective university routes.
The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 187 applications for 103 places, with 101 first-preference offers made. Facilities are notably strong for a state secondary, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a chapel. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 28.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage. Sturminster Newton is a good fit for families in the Dorset area who want a broad curriculum, decent facilities, and a sixth form, but who are realistic about academic outcomes being below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Bath Road, Bath Road, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1DT |
| Headteacher | Donna London-Hill |
| Local Authority | Dorset |
| Number of Pupils | 617 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.9% |
| School Capacity | 617 / 900 (69% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Jun 2018Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (13 Jun 2018): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 29 Jun 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.39)
2440th of 3,141
Nationally
257th of 306
In South West
16th of 20
In Dorset
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
32.0
'22/23
28.8
'23/24
30.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed103
187
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
101 families put this school as their 1st choice (54% 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 British87.4%
- White (other)6.3%
- Mixed3.5%
- Asian1.2%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
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 Sturminster Newton High School
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
Bath Road, Bath Road, Sturminster Newton
Dorset, DT10 1DT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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