Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #6 in Dorset public Top 20% UK

The Gryphon School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Jim Gower

corporate_fareSHERBORNE AREA SCHOOLS' TRUST

location_onSherborne, DT9 4EQ

language Visit Website phone 1935813122

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2017

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Students

1,552

trending_up

Attainment 8

46.7

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#6 in Dorset

#1,418 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Gryphon School is a Academy converter secondary school in Sherborne, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.0×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

The Gryphon School is an academy converter in Sherborne, Dorset, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of SHERBORNE AREA SCHOOLS' TRUST. The school has approximately 1,555 pupils on roll, of whom 21% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 46.7, placing the school #6 in Dorset and #1,418 of 3,216 nationally. 44.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 17.2% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 26 A-level subjects. 51.2% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 20.5% at A*–A. A-level value added: 0.1 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.0× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

46.7

Grade 5+ E&M

44.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)17.2%

Entering EBacc33.30%

EBacc APS4.13

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.06

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33.90%

EBacc APS4.25

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38%

EBacc APS4.40

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.19

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

53.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc42%

EBacc APS4.68

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc35%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.02

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc49%

EBacc APS4.51

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc47%

EBacc APS4.48

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.1

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

175

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*6.5%

Achieving A*–A20.5%

Achieving A*–B51.2%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate87.4%

A-level subjects offered26

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.22

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

155

Retention rate87.10%

2023

Avg Grade

B-

Students

197

Retention rate92.90%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

161

Retention rate94.4%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

20 June 2023

Inspection Report

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15 November 2017

Inspection Report

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29 January 2014

Inspection Report

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10 August 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2017-11-15

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-01-29

Exempt School Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-11-03

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

1.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.9%(14 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,555 pupils. During this period, there were 21 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.4%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,555	21	1.4%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,562	25	1.6%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,508	25	1.7%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,514	25	1.7%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,518	13	0.9%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,543	22	1.4%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,552	34	2.2%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,561	29	1.9%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,565	43	2.7%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,571	33	2.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,572	36	2.3%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,550	29	1.9%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,553	9	0.6%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,559	15	1.0%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,553	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,553	16	1.0%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,555	23	1.5%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,555	35	2.3%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,555	22	1.4%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,561	33	2.1%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,539	20	1.3%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,540	14	0.9%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,554	30	1.9%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,575	12	0.8%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,590	31	1.9%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,589	13	0.8%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 59 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 47 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 36 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 22 pupils

Physical Disability 5 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

85.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

87.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

21.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree20%

agree52%

disagree19%

strongly disagree6%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree20%

agree42%

disagree28%

strongly disagree6%

don't know4%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree36%

agree22%

disagree15%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

not applicable21%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes23%

no77%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree37%

agree24%

disagree22%

strongly disagree13%

dont know4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree40%

agree41%

disagree10%

strongly disagree3%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree45%

agree38%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree48%

agree42%

disagree8%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree54%

agree37%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree43%

agree47%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree32%

agree43%

disagree14%

strongly disagree5%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes87%

no13%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Dorset

The Woodroffe School

The Thomas Hardye School

Beaminster School

The Blandford School

Sturminster Newton High School

Lytchett Minster School