School Chooser

Where to live in Dorset for good schools

Schools in Dorset average 39 on the School Chooser Score, 135th of 139 councils in England, and a typical home costs £345,000 (85th cheapest). House prices aren't published in enough detail to compare parts of the council, so the postcode districts below are ranked on their schools alone: the average score of the primaries and secondaries in each, and the best of each. Click a district for its full list and map.

#Postcode districtSchools scorePrimariesSecondariesBest primaryBest secondary
1BH313 primaries, 0 secondaries60603 scored–Trinity Church of England First School 76–
2BH2115 primaries, 1 secondary576014 scored131 scoredRushcombe First School 95Queen Elizabeth's School 13
3DT14 primaries, 1 secondary56553 scored601 scoredManor Park Church of England First School 69The Thomas Hardye School 60
4DT72 primaries, 1 secondary48402 scored651 scoredMrs Ethelston's CofE Primary Academy 77The Woodroffe School 65
5DT212 primaries, 1 secondary444711 scored171 scoredCheselbourne Village School 91Dorset Studio School 17
6BH224 primaries, 1 secondary42364 scored681 scoredSt Mary's CofE First School & Nursery 54Ferndown Upper School 68
7DT1111 primaries, 1 secondary414111 scored431 scoredSpetisbury CofE Primary School 85The Blandford School 43
8BH164 primaries, 1 secondary40344 scored661 scoredLytchett Matravers Primary School 62Lytchett Minster School 66
9DT83 primaries, 1 secondary40343 scored551 scoredParrett and Axe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 60Beaminster School 55
10BH194 primaries, 1 secondary37434 scored141 scoredSt George's Church of England Primary School, Langton Matravers 77The Swanage School 14
11DT105 primaries, 1 secondary37385 scored341 scoredHazelbury Bryan Primary School 58Sturminster Newton High School 34
12BH209 primaries, 1 secondary35309 scored751 scoredStoborough Church of England Primary School 70The Purbeck School 75
13SP76 primaries, 1 secondary32356 scored171 scoredSt Andrew's Church of England Primary School 59Shaftesbury School 17
14DT99 primaries, 1 secondary30277 scored471 scoredTrent Young's CofE Primary School 90The Gryphon School 47
15DT610 primaries, 1 secondary302810 scored511 scoredSymondsbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 63The Sir John Colfox Academy 51
16DT36 primaries, 1 secondary28296 scored261 scoredSt Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary School 75Wey Valley Academy 26
17SP86 primaries, 1 secondary24246 scored–St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School 69–
18DT48 primaries, 2 secondaries24287 scored92 scoredHoly Trinity Church of England VC Primary School & Community Nursery 49Budmouth Academy Weymouth 11
Primary schools in DorsetSecondary schools in DorsetAll councils

How to read this

A district's score is the average School Chooser Score of its state primary and secondary schools that have a score. A district with only one scored school is shown but not ranked. A school counts in the postcode district of its own address, which isn't the same as its catchment area, so check the school's own Getting a place section before you choose a street.