The Blandford School
Secondary · Voluntary controlled school · Ages 11–18 · Blandford Forum, Dorset
Last distance offered · Year 7 2022
5.952 miles
Published by Dorset Council · offers on 1 March 2022
2018–2019 trend 🔒
Nearby schools' earlier years 🔒
The Blandford School is a secondary school in Blandford Forum, Dorset for ages 11–18 (voluntary controlled school). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Good, from the inspection on 23 April 2024. Dorset has published a last distance offered for this school for Year 7 2018 to 2022 entry.
The Blandford School catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Year 7 2022 | 5.952 mi |
| Year 7 2019 | 🔒 With a pass |
| Year 7 2018 | 🔒 With a pass |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- In 2022, the last Year 7 place offered went to a child living 5.952 miles from the school.
- The 2026 Year 7 entry had 199 first-choice applications for 202 offers; every first-choice family was offered a place, and 3 offers went to families ranking it second or lower.
- In 2024/25, 46% of pupils got grade 5 or above in GCSE English and maths (England 45%), with an Attainment 8 score of 47 (England 46).
- At A level in 2024/25 the average grade was B- (England B-), and progress from GCSE to A level was above average.
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other Dorset schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- Milldown Road, Blandford Forum, DT11 7SQ
- Type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11–18
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Council
- Dorset
- Pupils on roll
- 1,103 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 19.9% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 15.4
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Good Inspected 23 April 2024
Strengths
- “The school’s core values of REAP: respect, effort, attitude and perseverance underpin all aspects of school life.”
- “The school strives to provide the same highquality education to all pupils.”
- “Leaders work to overcome any challenges that pupils face.”
To improve
- “However, many pupils do not take part in these activities.”
- “However, sometimes, the systematic checking and addressing of pupils’ knowledge and understanding lacks precision.”
- “As a result, some pupils have gaps in their knowledge that are not identified and acted upon.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 22 May 2024 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths, grade 5 or above (2024/25) | 46% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 score (2024/25) | 47 | 46 |
| A level average grade (2024/25) | B- | B- |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Year 7 entry: 199 first-preference applications, 202 offers in total, 199 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby secondary schools
Straight-line distance, in Dorset.
- Sturminster Newton High School 7.7 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Queen Elizabeth's School 8.2 mi Requires improvement
- Lytchett Minster School 9.6 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- Shaftesbury School 9.7 mi Good
- Ferndown Upper School 12.3 mi No Ofsted grade
- The Purbeck School 12.5 mi Improved significantly Last distance published
- Gillingham School 12.9 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Dorset Studio School 14.3 mi Good Last distance published