Ofsted school ratings in Dorset
In Dorset (South West), 68 of 86 graded state-funded schools are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted — a Good-or-Outstanding rate of 79.1%. That is 8.1 percentage points below the England-wide rate of 87.2%, based on Ofsted’s management information as at 31 May 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 79.1%
- England 87.2%
- Outstanding
- 2
- Good
- 66
- Requires improvement
- 17
- Inadequate
- 1
- Graded schools
- 86
- rank 129/145
Ofsted overall-effectiveness grades in Dorset (31 May 2026)
| Grade | Schools in Dorset | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding | 2 | 2.3% |
| Good | 66 | 76.7% |
| Requires improvement | 17 | 19.8% |
| Inadequate | 1 | 1.2% |
The Good-or-Outstanding rate is derived from these real counts as (Outstanding + Good) ÷ all graded schools. Schools last inspected on or after 1 September 2024 carry no overall-effectiveness grade and are excluded, per Ofsted’s published methodology.
By school phase in Dorset
| Phase | Outstanding | Good | RI | Inadequate | Good+Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | 2 | 47 | 13 | 1 | 77.8% |
| Secondary | 0 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 77.8% |
| Special | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
More about Dorset
Areas with a similar Good-or-Outstanding rate
Frequently asked questions
- How many schools in Dorset are rated Good or Outstanding?
- 68 of 86 graded state-funded schools in Dorset hold an Ofsted overall-effectiveness grade of Good or Outstanding — a Good-or-Outstanding rate of 79.1%. That figure is derived from Ofsted's real inspection counts as at 31 May 2026. Across England the rate is 87.2%.
- How many Outstanding schools does Dorset have?
- Dorset has 2 schools rated Outstanding and 66 rated Good, out of 86 graded state-funded schools, according to Ofsted management information as at 31 May 2026.
- Are there any Inadequate schools in Dorset?
- 1 state-funded school is rated Inadequate in Dorset, and 17 rated Requires improvement, out of 86 graded schools (Ofsted, as at 31 May 2026).
- What is the Good-or-Outstanding rate for primary and secondary schools in Dorset?
- By phase in Dorset: 77.8% of 63 primary schools; 77.8% of 18 secondary schools; 100.0% of 3 special schools are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted (as at 31 May 2026).
- How does Dorset compare with the rest of England for school ratings?
- Dorset ranks 129 of 145 English local authorities (those with at least 20 graded schools) by Ofsted Good-or-Outstanding rate, at 79.1% versus the England-wide 87.2% (as at 31 May 2026).
Reference period: latest inspections as at 31 May 2026 (Ofsted management information, published 2026-06-18). Source: Ofsted — State-funded school inspections and outcomes: management information. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Ofsted. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.