Official inspection reports and grades
Inspected 4 February 2025
Compared with the local authority and England
Attainment 8 scores a pupil's best 8 GCSE results, out of about 90. Progress 8 compares those results with pupils who started secondary school at the same level: 0 is average.
| Measure | School | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 score | 49.8 | 43.2 | 46.1 |
Grade 4 is a standard pass; grade 5 is a strong pass.
| Measure | School | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 50% | 41% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 71% | 62% | 65% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 67% | 57% | 60% |
The EBacc is English, maths, science, a language, and history or geography. It is a set of subjects rather than a qualification.
| Measure | School | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering the EBacc | 58% | 38% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 4.5 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
Based on 439 pupils at the end of key stage 4.
The Thomas Hardye School's catchment area comes from its admission criteria, set by its academy trust, which decide who is offered a place when more children apply than there are places. Children in care or adopted from care come first by law. Most schools put brothers and sisters of current pupils next, then distance from home or a catchment boundary, and the school's admissions policy says which it uses. Living nearby does not guarantee a place, and how far away the last place went changes every year, depending on who applies.
The Thomas Hardye School is in Dorset council's area. Check its admissions booklet for how far away places went in recent years.
School workforce census, 2025/26.
Ofsted’s survey of parents at this school
82%
of parents would recommend this school to another parent
448 responses up to 1 September 2025 · 22% response rate
My child is happy at this school.
85% agreeMy child feels safe at this school.
87% agreeThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.
78% agreeMy child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.
44% agreeThe school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.
68% agreeThe Thomas Hardye School's last overall grade from Ofsted was Outstanding, on 19 March 2015. Ofsted inspected it again on 4 February 2025 without giving an overall grade, as single-word grades ended in September 2024.
The Thomas Hardye School's catchment area comes from its admission criteria, set by its academy trust, which decide who is offered a place when more children apply than there are places. Children in care or adopted from care come first by law. Most schools put brothers and sisters of current pupils next, then distance from home or a catchment boundary, and the school's admissions policy says which it uses. Living nearby does not guarantee a place, and how far away the last place went changes every year, depending on who applies.
The Thomas Hardye School had 2,051 pupils aged 13 to 18 at the latest school census. Its official capacity is 2,138. It is a mixed school with a sixth form.
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