The Dormston School
About The Dormston School
The Dormston School is a mixed state secondary in Dudley, serving 1,138 pupils aged 11 to 16. It sits 14th out of 17 schools in the local authority when ranked by Progress 8, placing it in the bottom half of Dudley secondaries. The top-performing peers in the area are Old Swinford Hospital, Pegasus Academy and Redhill School, all of which post positive Progress 8 scores. Dormston’s own Progress 8 score of -0.44 is well below the Dudley average of -0.08, and the school is classified as ‘Below average’ nationally. It is also oversubscribed: for 222 places in 2025/26, the school received 540 total applications, with 246 first-preference requests and 209 offers made to first-preference families. That works out at 2.43 applicants per place, suggesting strong local demand despite the middling ranking. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Beacon Hill Academy, just 1.1 km away.
Key Details
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 EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Jun 2022Source: Ofsted, 24 Jul 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:10
Source: dormston.dudley.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Dormston 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