The Purbeck School
87%
Capacity
1,028
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About The Purbeck School
The Purbeck School has been rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2025, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The school's standout academic metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.6, which is rated as Well above average nationally. This means pupils at The Purbeck School are making substantially more progress between the end of primary school and their GCSEs compared with pupils across England with similar starting points. To put that in context, the average Progress 8 score for secondary schools in Dorset is -0.09, so The Purbeck School is performing well ahead of its local authority peers. In fact, it ranks second out of 20 secondary schools in Dorset on this measure, placing it in the top 25 per cent of schools nationally.
At GCSE level, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 49.9, and 72.3 per cent of students secured a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The school's EBacc average point score sits at 4.26, with 22 per cent of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. In the sixth form, the school also performs strongly. Its A-level value added score of 0.23 is rated Above average, meaning students make better progress than expected. The average points per entry is 34.39, equivalent to a C+ grade, and the best three A-levels average out at a B-. With 24.4 per cent of entries achieving AAB or higher, the sixth form offers a solid academic pathway for those staying on after Year 11.
The school is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry, receiving 246 applications for 150 places in 2025/26, with 145 first-preference offers made. It has a range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sixth form centre, and science labs, and offers clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, debating, and gardening. The school supports pupils with a variety of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Parent views are broadly positive, with 85 per cent of respondents saying they would recommend the school. However, 22 per cent of parents strongly disagreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, which is worth noting. The Purbeck School suits families looking for a secondary with strong academic progress, a well-regarded sixth form, and a wide range of extracurricular activities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Worgret Road, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4PF |
| Headteacher | Adam Darley |
| Local Authority | Dorset |
| Number of Pupils | 1,028 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 22.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,028 / 1,180 (87% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
30 Apr 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (30 Apr 2025): Improved significantly
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 26 Feb 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.60)
377th of 3,141
Nationally
23rd of 306
In South West
2nd of 20
In Dorset
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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
40.1
'22/23
34.1
'23/24
34.4
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2347%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 158 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)47%
- FE college35%
- Employment8%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship3%
94% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics30
- Chemistry27
- Biology19
- English Literature12
- History12
- Physics12
- Psychology11
- Sociology11
- Design and Technology (Product Design)10
- Media/Film/Tv Studies9
- Geography8
- English Language7
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
109 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed150
246
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
145 families put this school as their 1st choice (59% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British86.4%
- White (other)4.5%
- Mixed3.7%
- Asian0.5%
- Black0.1%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Purbeck 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
Worgret Road, Wareham
Dorset, BH20 4PF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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