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Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #13 in Dorset public Top 33% UK

The Purbeck School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted
personMr Adam Darley
corporate_fareWESSEX MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
location_onWareham, BH20 4PF
language Visit Website phone 1929550077
verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2014

groups

Students

1,064

trending_up

Attainment 8

41.9

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#13 in Dorset

#2,265 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Purbeck School is a Academy converter secondary school in Wareham, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

article

School Summary

The Purbeck School is an academy converter in Wareham, Dorset, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of WESSEX MULTI ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 1,028 pupils on roll, of whom 22% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 41.9, placing the school #13 in Dorset and #2,265 of 3,216 nationally. 36.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 10.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 16 A-level subjects. 39.6% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 12.4% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.26 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2014. The school's current overall rating is Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 2.7 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

41.9

Grade 5+ E&M

36.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)10.9%
Entering EBacc19.50%
EBacc APS3.54
2024
Progress 8 Score

0.6

vs National Avg
Attainment 8

49.9

Grade 5+ E&M

-%

Entering EBacc22.00%
EBacc APS4.26
2023
Progress 8 Score

0.08

vs National Avg
Attainment 8

44.2

Grade 5+ E&M

-%

Entering EBacc14%
EBacc APS3.72
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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

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%
Apprenticeships6%
Employment5%
Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%
2024
Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%
Apprenticeships5%
Employment5%
Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%
2023
Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%
Apprenticeships3%
Employment8%
Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%
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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

-0.26

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Students

56

Grade Breakdown
Achieving A*3.0%
Achieving A*–A12.4%
Achieving A*–B39.6%
VA Banding Below average
Retention rate98.2%
A-level subjects offered16
2024
A-Level Value Added

+0.23

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

64

Retention rate95.30%
2023
Avg Grade

C+

Students

65

Retention rate95.40%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

No digital report timeline available.

Inspection History

2 Evaluations
S5 Inspection EIF
Good
Education
No Judgement
Behaviour
No Judgement
Development
No Judgement
Leadership
Good
None EIF
Requires improvement
Education
No Judgement
Behaviour
No Judgement
Development
No Judgement
Leadership
Requires improvement

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Data sources: School information from GIAS (DfE). Ofsted inspection data from Ofsted. Performance data from DfE Performance Tables. Parent View data from Ofsted Parent View. Census data from DfE Explore Education Statistics. Rankings are computed by SchoolsInfo.uk using public DfE data. Data updated annually. Last refresh: March 2026. How we calculate rankings →

Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general reference purposes only and is sourced from publicly available government datasets. SchoolsInfo.uk is an independent website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any school, local authority, Ofsted, or the Department for Education. Data may not reflect the current position of the school — always verify directly with the school or the relevant official body before making any decisions. School performance data relates to historical cohorts and may not be representative of current or future results. Rankings and composite scores are compiled by SchoolsInfo.uk and do not constitute an official government assessment. Nothing on this page constitutes professional advice.

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