The Blandford School Review 2026: Rural Excellence and Sixth Form Strength

Occupying an 18-acre rural campus on the edge of Blandford Forum, The Blandford School has evolved from a 19th-century endowment into a thriving mixed secondary with sixth form. Originally founded as The Milldown School in 1903 by Thomas Horlock Bastard, a Dorset philanthropist committed to non-denominational education, the school serves around 1,100 students aged 11 to 18 as a state-funded voluntary controlled institution. The inspection framework changed in September 2024, but the school's most recent Ofsted visit on 23 April 2024 awarded Good across all areas, including Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Sixth Form Provision. Of particular note is the sixth form's strong A-level performance, which ranks 583rd (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 25% of schools in England for post-16 outcomes. GCSE results are solid and in line with middle England performance. All students who wished to progress to university in 2023, 2024, and 2025 secured places, with destinations including Cambridge, Oxford, Exeter, Bristol, Durham, Cardiff, Warwick, UCL, and King's College London.

The school sits beside the River Stour in quiet countryside, a setting that shapes its identity as a rooted local institution rather than a destination school. The campus blends older buildings with modern additions reflecting substantial investment in recent years. A dedicated Sixth Form Centre opened in 2025, signalling the school's commitment to post-16 expansion. The Performing Arts block houses purpose-built facilities, and recent infrastructure projects have created accessible teaching spaces throughout, with Blocks 1, 2, 3, and 5 fully wheelchair accessible and the food technology area featuring height-adjustable work surfaces and low-level ovens.

The school's core values, Respect, Effort, Attitude, and Perseverance (REAP), are woven through daily life. Staff know students well. The school maintains high expectations for attendance, punctuality, and uniform standards, reflecting preparation for adult working life. Parent View responses from 2023-24 showed 73% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed their child is happy at school, with 74% agreeing their child feels safe. The school's Rights Respecting Schools Award signals genuine commitment to student voice and rights.

Recent activities reveal an active learning culture beyond the classroom. In October 2025, the Performing Arts Department delivered professional productions of "We Will Rock You." Students have travelled to Berlin for historical and cultural immersion. The school is actively engaged with environmental stewardship, recently planting Native Black Poplar saplings (Britain's rarest large trees) in partnership with the Blandford and Stour Rotary Club, providing students with opportunities to track ecological impact over years.

GCSE Performance

At GCSE, the school's Attainment 8 score stands at 46.6, which is in line with England's average of 45.9. The school ranks 2,093rd in England (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the typical performance band representing the middle 45% of secondary schools. Locally, it ranks 1st among Blandford Forum schools.

In 2024, 60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and mathematics (a measure of functional competence), and 72% achieved five or more GCSEs at grades 9-4 (formerly A-C). The Progress 8 score is -0.33, indicating pupils make slightly below-average progress from their starting points compared to similar cohorts in England. However, the school emphasises that this metric reflects the demographics and prior attainment of its intake. The English Baccalaureate pathway is available, with 11% of pupils achieving grade 5 or above across the EBacc suite (English, maths, science, languages, humanities).

A-Level Performance

The sixth form is a genuine strength. In 2024, 11% of A-level entries were graded A* (the highest mark), 21% graded A, and 31% graded B. Combined, 63% of entries achieved grades A*-B, compared to the England average of 47%. The school ranks 583rd in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the national strong tier (top 25%). Locally, it ranks 2nd among schools with post-16 provision in the area.

The diversity of A-level subjects reflects breadth: academic subjects include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, History, Geography, English Literature, French, Spanish, Latin, Psychology, Business, and Sociology. Vocational qualifications include Cambridge Technicals and further BTECs, recognising that not all students follow a purely academic path.

The 2024 Ofsted report found that teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge and present material clearly. The curriculum is described as ambitious and broad, encompassing traditional academic subjects alongside vocational pathways. Recent curriculum refinements have improved sequencing of learning, identifying essential content and building knowledge systematically.

However, inspectors noted that formative assessment practices lack consistency across subjects. Some lapses occur in identifying gaps in pupil knowledge, which can impede readiness for new learning. This is an area the school is actively addressing through professional development.

Year 6 transition includes customised projects in science, design, and mathematics, familiarising primary students with secondary expectations. For older pupils entering the school mid-phase, staff carefully evaluate needs and provide appropriate support. The sixth form curriculum is deliberately broad, designed to be "big enough to offer a wide range of courses and opportunities, yet small enough to ensure that all students are known and supported as individuals."

University Destinations

In 2023, 2024, and 2025, the school reports that every student who applied to university was successful in securing a place. Looking at three-year data, approximately three-quarters of sixth form students progressed to university, with the remainder pursuing apprenticeships and employment.

Destinations include Cambridge, Oxford, Exeter, Bristol, Durham, Cardiff, Warwick, UCL (University College London), King's College London, York, Bath, and others. Recent examples include students securing places in Global Sustainable Business at Warwick, Politics and International Relations at Bristol, Mathematics at UCL, and Modern Languages at King's College London. The school also reports regular placements in medicine, veterinary sciences, biomedical sciences, midwifery, nursing, and physiotherapy, demonstrating success in competitive courses.

A cohort of 76 students left in 2023-24: 57% progressed to university, 4% began apprenticeships, and 34% entered employment.

Post-16 Entry and Progression

Internal progression from Year 11 to Year 12 is not automatic but depends on achieving appropriate grades and meeting course entry requirements. The school carefully assesses suitability for each subject. External applicants to the sixth form are welcome; the school notes that sixth form open evenings attract students from neighbouring schools.

The school's extracurricular offer reflects both breadth and genuine engagement. Named clubs and activities include Coding, Debate Club, Climate Club, Young Enterprise, Duke of Edinburgh Award (available to Gold level), Drama productions, and Sports Leaders Qualifications. Team sports include rugby, football, hockey, cricket, and tennis. The school has invested significantly in sports facilities, with floodlit Synthetic Turf Pitch allowing year-round participation. A sports hall serves multiple indoor disciplines.

The Performing Arts Department operates as a genuine hub of school life. The Performing Arts block houses purpose-built rehearsal and performance spaces. Annual productions include major musicals, recent examples include "We Will Rock You" (October 2025). Drama productions involve significant student participation and professional-standard staging. A Christmas Cabaret provides seasonal entertainment.

Music provision spans instrumental and vocal performance. Choir and ensemble opportunities exist, though specific ensemble names are not detailed on available public resources. The school also offers enrichment through international educational trips; Berlin visits in 2025 included immersion in historical sites, museums, and cultural landmarks.

The school's 18-acre campus provides grounds for environmental learning and outdoor activities. Recent initiatives include ecosystem monitoring (tracking native tree growth and impact) and outdoor learning areas. A dedicated focus on sustainability is evident through solar panel installation and recycling programs.

Beyond school-organised activities, Blandford Forum itself offers additional opportunities: the town has canoeing facilities via the Stour Valley Canoe Club, a leisure centre, and various dance and community groups. The school connects students to these local resources through its wider community network.

The Blandford School is a non-selective state school. Admission at Year 7 follows standard local authority coordinated procedures managed by Dorset. The school is currently undersubscribed at secondary entry, meaning available places typically go to all who apply within the year group. This contrasts with primary entry (Reception), where the school is oversubscribed at 1.11 times the published admission number, reflecting demand from very local families.

For sixth form entry (Year 12), the school welcomes both internal progressors and external applicants. Entry requirements vary by subject and are assessed individually to ensure students can access the course content at the intended level.

The school operates within Dorset's admissions framework as a non-selective institution. Parents should contact the school or Dorset County Council for specific admissions procedures, timelines, and entry requirements.

The Ofsted report rated Personal Development as Good. The school places strong emphasis on understanding students well. Staff are trained to identify when students need additional support, and the school quickly adapts learning accordingly. Particular mention is made of partnerships with MYTIME, which provides significant support for young carers, a notable percentage of the school roll.

A dedicated Safeguarding Team manages child protection. The school outlines clear protocols for reporting concerns and has published its safeguarding policy transparently. Staff training on safeguarding is prioritised.

Behaviour is described by inspectors as broadly calm and orderly, though low-level disruption occasionally occurs and is not always managed swiftly enough, an area the school is working to address through improved classroom management strategies. Students report feeling safe, and the school operates clear behaviour expectations aligned to the REAP values.

Students have access to counselling support on a weekly basis. The school also works with local community partners to signpost families to additional services (mental health support, domestic abuse services, etc.). A dedicated Careers Programme guides students toward post-16 options, with particular strength in supporting those pursuing apprenticeships and vocational pathways as well as higher education.

School Hours

08:30-12:30 and 13:30-15:30 (split day with lunch break, Monday-Friday)

Wraparound Care

The school does not appear to offer on-site breakfast club or after-school care provision. Parents should contact the school directly to confirm any available supervision outside these hours.

Transport

Blandford Forum is served by local bus services. The nearest bus station is 0.8 miles from the school. The nearest railway station is 1.1 miles away (Blandford Forum station, though this line closed in 1966 and remains a heritage route with limited service). Most students arrive by local bus or car. The school operates within a rural setting, so access to public transport should be verified if relying on coach travel.

Facilities

The 18-acre campus houses multiple teaching blocks (1-5), a Sixth Form Centre (opened 2025), Performing Arts block with drama studio, sports hall, Synthetic Turf Pitch (floodlit), library, food technology area with specialist equipment, and outdoor learning spaces.

Rural Location: The school is situated outside the town centre on a spacious campus. While this provides peace and outdoor space, families without private transport should verify public bus routes and journey times before committing.

GCSE to A-Level Jump: The Progress 8 score at GCSE is slightly below average, but the A-level results are notably strong. This suggests the school's sixth form is particularly effective, but younger students should be aware that the school will hold appropriate expectations, and support systems are more tailored at post-16 level.

Oversubscription at Year 7 Entry: Sixth form is relatively accessible, but Year 7 entry is not guaranteed if applying from outside the school's core feeder primary schools. The school states that approximately three-quarters of its sixth form cohort progress from Year 11, with the remainder coming from external applicants.

Class Sizes and Individual Attention: With around 1,100 pupils across 11-18, the school is large enough to offer subject breadth but manages pastoral care effectively through form tutor systems and house structures. Year 9 transition assessments help ensure appropriate grouping and support.

The Blandford School is a solid state secondary with genuine sixth form strength. It serves its local community well and has demonstrably improved over recent years. The 2024 inspection confirmed the trajectory: whole-school ratings of Good, with particular recognition of sixth form provision. Academic results at GCSE are typical, but A-level performance sits comfortably above England average, placing the school in the top quarter of schools in England for post-16 outcomes. The Ofsted report validated the strong subject knowledge of staff, the ambitious curriculum, and the commitment to student wellbeing.

The school is best suited to families within the Dorset catchment who value a supportive, values-led community and who see sixth form progression as realistic for their children. For those specifically looking for post-16 education, the sixth form's track record of university progression and strong A-level grades makes it a credible local alternative to independent options. The setting on a spacious rural campus appeals to students who thrive in a more contained, coherent community rather than a large urban school. Families should verify transport accessibility before applying, and those seeking additional out-of-hours care should enquire directly about what the school can provide.