Harbour Vale School
Academy alternative provision sponsor led · Ages 5–16 · Sherborne, Dorset
Harbour Vale School is an alternative provision school in Sherborne, Dorset for ages 5–16 (academy alternative provision sponsor led). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Good, from the inspection on 30 April 2024.
Open on the map Unlock every school · £9.99
Key facts
- Address
- Simons Road, Sherborne, DT9 4DN
- Type
- Academy alternative provision sponsor led
- Ages
- 5–16
- Council
- Dorset
- Pupils on roll
- 23 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 69.6% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 3.9
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Good Inspected 30 April 2024
Strengths
- “Relationships with staff, built on trust and respect, help pupils to gain the confidence, resilience and independence to succeed socially and emotionally.”
- “The school is a calm and safe space for pupils.”
- “Pupils who attend Harbour Vale School regularly are well-supported to recognise and manage their emotions.”
To improve
- “For some pupils, more time is needed to build their confidence so that they are ready to learn again.”
- “However, this work is not well developed in some subjects.”
- “In these subjects, learning activities are sometimes too easy.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 14 June 2024 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What a pass unlocks for Harbour Vale School
- Where pupils go after they leave
- Crime, sold prices and rents, broadband and transport around the school
One payment, no subscription: 3 months of every school and nursery in England.
Nearby special, independent and other schools
Straight-line distance, in Dorset.
- Sherborne School 0.5 mi No Ofsted grade
- Sherborne Preparatory School 0.5 mi No Ofsted grade
- Sherborne School for Girls 0.7 mi No Ofsted grade
- Leweston School 3.1 mi No Ofsted grade
- Yewstock School 9.4 mi School remains Outstanding
- The Forum School 11.9 mi No Ofsted grade
- Hanford School 13.3 mi No Ofsted grade
- Milton Abbey School 13.6 mi No Ofsted grade