School Chooser

Queen Elizabeth's School

Secondary · ages 13-18MixedAcademyChurch of England1,375 pupilsSixth formWimborneDorset
School Chooser Score
12
Well below
similar schools
Likely range 9 to 18
Out of 100. Better than 4% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedRequires improvementLast Ofsted inspection, October 2023
Strong pass in English and maths38%England 46%
Attendance87.3%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families17%Far fewer than most schools
Parents would recommend73%11 Parent View responses
Places205 spare1,375 pupils, 1,580 places

Queen Elizabeth's School is a converter academy in Wimborne for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. It has 1,375 pupils and room for 1,580. About 17 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 13 out of 100. That puts it well below schools like it, ahead of 4% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was requires improvement, back in 2023.

Blandford Road, Wimborne, BH21 4DT01202 885233queenelizabeths.comMr Thomas Neill headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 3 October 2023, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Requires improvement overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Requires improvement
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Requires improvement
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

368 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score43.3
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths38%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths66%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.17In each subject, pupils here finished a little behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 47.447.420182019: 48.148.120192022: 49.749.720222023: 45.145.120232024: 45.245.220242025: 43.343.32025
Since 2018: -4.1Declining overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018DorsetEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11368400387392405379
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 843.345.245.149.748.147.442.946.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.17-0.07-0.14+0.14+0.12
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths38%43%43%48%41%42%38%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths66%66%67%75%73%71%60%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score3.673.793.714.104.013.933.774.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry14%13%7%10%23%27%37%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged29.232.134.038.538.634.8
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged46.247.246.851.549.649.5
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers27.829.429.229.126.6
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers63.265.866.259.659.3

Subjects

Results came out for 23 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Dance79%grades 9 to 5, England 58%
French73%grades 9 to 5, England 60% · 625th of 1,974 schools
Spanish66%grades 9 to 5, England 54% · 586th of 1,941 schools

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Religious Studies (38% here, 60% across England), Business (31% here, 51% across England), Media / Film / TV (36% here, 55% across England), Chemistry (68% here, 81% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, 2 languages, computer science, music.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics363 entries · 13th of 18 in Dorset
44%England 53%
English Language360 entries · 7th of 18 in Dorset
51%England 54%
English Literature354 entries · 7th of 18 in Dorset
53%England 58%
Religious Studies331 entries · 10th of 11 in Dorset
38%England 60%
Combined Science259 entries · 12th of 17 in Dorset
24%England 36%
History176 entries · 8th of 17 in Dorset
46%England 52%
Geography140 entries · 3rd of 18 in Dorset
53%England 51%
Art and Design121 entries · 5th of 15 in Dorset
67%England 58%
Chemistry95 entries · 8th of 15 in Dorset
68%England 81%
Biology95 entries · 7th of 15 in Dorset
82%England 82%
Physics94 entries · 7th of 15 in Dorset
81%England 82%
Social Studies77 entries · 1st of 2 in Dorset
56%England 54%
French51 entries · 3rd of 13 in Dorset
73%England 60%
Spanish50 entries · 2nd of 9 in Dorset
66%England 54%
Drama42 entries · 4th of 5 in Dorset
52%England 60%
Design & Technology34 entries · 5th of 11 in Dorset
56%England 50%
Food Preparation & Nutrition29 entries · 6th of 12 in Dorset
55%England 52%
Computer Science29 entries · 4th of 7 in Dorset
55%England 56%
Physical Education28 entries · 4th of 11 in Dorset
61%England 56%
Business26 entries · 10th of 11 in Dorset
31%England 51%
Media / Film / TV22 entries · 3rd of 4 in Dorset
36%England 55%
Dance19 entries
79%England 58%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics36313%44%71%53%2,185 of 3,211
English Language36015%51%74%54%1,726 of 3,210
English Literature35412%53%71%58%1,832 of 3,202
Religious Studies33114%38%54%60%1,620 of 1,825
Combined Science2592%24%51%36%2,336 of 3,084
History17622%46%57%52%1,889 of 3,126
Geography14019%53%65%51%1,205 of 3,116
Art and Design12122%67%87%58%1,004 of 2,818
Chemistry9516%68%98%81%1,985 of 2,537
Biology9518%82%98%82%1,549 of 2,570
Physics9422%81%96%82%1,584 of 2,546
Social Studies7712%56%69%54%467 of 1,043
French5131%73%82%60%625 of 1,974
Spanish5022%66%74%54%586 of 1,941
Drama4214%52%64%60%576 of 844
Design & Technology3421%56%77%50%557 of 1,478
Food Preparation & Nutrition2921%55%76%52%485 of 1,098
Computer Science2914%55%62%56%891 of 1,861
Physical Education2811%61%82%56%670 of 1,559
Business264%31%42%51%1,468 of 1,806
Media / Film / TV225%36%64%55%483 of 580
Dance1937%79%95%58%
Music60%50%67%61%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

187 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC31.1 points per entry
A level progress-0.25Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better15%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished90%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students187221208203386387
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry31.0530.2731.3034.0728.7928.91
Average A level gradeCCCC+CC
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS31.4032.5132.0235.1630.4430.24
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects15%10%10%8%7%7%
A level progressA level value added-0.25-0.21-0.01-0.08
Applied general courses: points per entry27.5328.3832.1831.36
T levels: points per entry36.43
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed90%97%96%98%90%79%

A level subjects

22 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsHistory34Biology33Mathematics29Psychology24Geography20Sociology19Economics18Chemistry18Business Studies17Physics17Graphics13Design and Technology (Product Design)12Government and Politics10English Literature9Media / Film / TV Studies9Religious Studies8Computer Science8Fine Art8Physical Education / Sports Studies7English Language and Literature6French6Photography5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
History34 entries · 21% A* or A · 100% passed
59%England 55%
Biology33 entries · 6% A* or A · 91% passed
21%England 49%
Mathematics29 entries · 21% A* or A · 93% passed
35%England 60%
Psychology24 entries · 4% A* or A · 92% passed
38%England 46%
Geography20 entries · 20% A* or A · 95% passed
40%England 51%
Sociology19 entries · 21% A* or A · 90% passed
47%England 49%
Economics18 entries · 0% A* or A · 94% passed
22%England 57%
Chemistry18 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 53%
Business Studies17 entries · 6% A* or A · 94% passed
41%England 47%
Physics17 entries · 24% A* or A · 88% passed
47%England 51%
Graphics13 entries · 23% A* or A · 100% passed
62%England 65%
Design and Technology (Product Design)12 entries · 8% A* or A · 100% passed
33%England 38%
Government and Politics10 entries · 20% A* or A · 90% passed
40%England 55%
English Literature9 entries · 22% A* or A · 89% passed
56%England 52%
Media / Film / TV Studies9 entries · 0% A* or A · 78% passed
22%England 46%
Religious Studies8 entries · 13% A* or A · 100% passed
75%England 50%
Computer Science8 entries · 25% A* or A · 63% passed
38%England 46%
Fine Art8 entries · 25% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 65%
Physical Education / Sports Studies7 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
0%England 41%
English Language and Literature6 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
33%England 47%
French6 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 60%
Photography5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 58%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. None of the gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
29.246.2
Gap 17.0England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
17%42%
Gap 25 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
40.845.3
Gap 4.5England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

A few spare places1,442 pupils for 1,580 places, 2024/25
91% full

About 138 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have fallen by 9% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Will my child get a place?

The last child to get a place lived 6.4 miles away in 2021. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2021. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 6.4 miles from the school, under the feeder school rule. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year.

EntryPlacesPut it firstApplied at allGot a placeHow far the last child livedSource
2021 Secondary3904095533906.4 miles (feeder school)LA

What parents say

Would recommend the school73%England 77%
My child is happy here73%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe82%
Positive overall
My child is happy at this school
73%England 75%
My child feels safe at this school
82%England 79%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
73%England 71%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
27% yesEngland 26%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
67%England 48%
My child gets the right support to learn well
91%England 71%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
73% yesEngland 31%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
88%England 58%
The school communicates well with me
100%England 71%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
64%England 58%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
82%England 67%
I would recommend this school
73%England 77%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 11 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for secondary schools with enough answers to publish.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,375Census January 2026
Places1,58087% full
Pupils from low-income families15%17% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English3%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support15%203 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%41 pupils with a plan
Average class size21.651 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils16%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)17%£188,100 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls669 / 706
White British pupils90%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Specific learning difficulty (83), emotional and mental health (56), Autistic spectrum disorder (41), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (17), Moderate learning difficulty (14), language and communications needs (14).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,3751,4521,5561,5981,5851,573
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals15%14%13%11%11%10%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language3%3%2%2%1%1%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support16%14%14%12%15%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans3%3%2%2%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 87.3% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance87.3%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school35.2%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils30.32024/25, 8 permanent exclusions
Missed without permission5.8%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence12.7%13.3%13.7%14.6%7.5%7.5%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence6.8%7.8%8.6%9.5%4.0%5.2%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence5.8%5.6%5.2%5.1%3.5%2.3%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence35.2%38.8%37.6%51.6%20.1%21.4%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate30.317.816.311.510.7
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions85636

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 387 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training93%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 89%, compared with 94% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training93%96%95%95%
Education83%87%84%88%
Apprenticeship6%5%5%4%
Work3%4%6%2%
Not in education, work or training5%3%4%4%

After sixth form

Where the 197 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training90%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 91%, compared with 90% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training66%England 72%
Top-third universities16%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship10%England 6%
Higher technical course0%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 50% went on to degree-level study or training and 17% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training90%90%88%
Education40%52%44%
Apprenticeship10%7%3%3%
Work40%31%41%
Not in education, work or training8%7%10%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers78.7full-time equivalent, 86 people
Pupils per teacher17.5Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers95%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants6.0full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£53,442
Teachers who left in the year28%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher7.52024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£7,473England £7,965. Total £11m
Income per pupil£7,974England £8,423. Total £12m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,158England £4,444
Money in reserve3%Very little put by: £298k, £205 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£727kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£7,473spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m1412 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate38 per 1,000 people58% lower than the England average
Typical house price£345,000Dorset
Nearest bus stop30 mQueen Elizabeth School, 2 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Allenbourn Middle SchoolAcademy0.8 miles499No overall grade 202573Compare
St Michael's Church of England Middle School, ColehillAcademy1.6 miles563Good 202476Compare
Lockyer's Middle SchoolAcademy1.9 miles436Good 202284Compare
Corfe Hills SchoolAcademy2.5 miles943Good 202147Compare
Broadstone Middle SchoolAcademy3.0 miles542Good 201923Compare
Poole Grammar SchoolAcademy (grammar)3.7 miles1,224No overall grade 202593Compare
Parkstone Grammar SchoolAcademy (grammar)4.2 miles1,241No overall grade 202590Compare
Magna AcademyAcademy4.3 miles938Good 202349Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Queen Elizabeth's School with the 48 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 48 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats4%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
Near the bottom of its group. Its score of 13 is 47 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 12 · middle 59 · highest 95100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 13 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 13% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 9 to 18. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%in line
-0.05
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 368 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well below
-0.41
Ofsted grade, 2.9 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
-0.05
DfE progress measure; 368 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%below
-0.09
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well below
-0.12
2024/25; 1,132 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.09
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 368 pupils
What pupils do next5%above
+0.02
387 pupils
What parents say5%in line
+0.00
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 11 responses

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Queen Elizabeth's School a good school?

The figures are weak. Queen Elizabeth's School scores 13 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 4% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 9 to 18, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is Queen Elizabeth's School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Queen Elizabeth's School requires improvement at its last full inspection on 3 October 2023.

How good are Queen Elizabeth's School's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 38% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 43.3, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished a little behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Queen Elizabeth's School have?

1,375 pupils aged 13 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,580 places, so it is 87% full.

Is Queen Elizabeth's School oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?

Yes. For September 2021 the last place went to a child living 6.4 miles away. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.

What is attendance like at Queen Elizabeth's School?

Pupils were in school 87.3% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 35% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about Queen Elizabeth's School?

73% of the 11 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 73% say their child is happy there. Across England, 77% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at Queen Elizabeth's School?

The average class had 21.6 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 16% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Queen Elizabeth's School have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C. 22 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Blandford Road, Wimborne, BH21 4DT
Telephone
01202 885233
Website
www.queenelizabeths.com
Headteacher
Mr Thomas Neill
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 13-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England, Diocese of Salisbury
Multi-academy trust
Initio Learning Trust (19 schools)
Local authority
Dorset
Ward
Stour & Allen Vale
Constituency
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 November 2014 (academy converter)
URN
141526 · LAESTAB 8384504 · UKPRN 10047873
Formerly
Queen Elizabeth's School

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from