How many pupils does Shaftesbury School have?

Shaftesbury School has 864 pupils on roll, according to Department for Education data.

What is Shaftesbury School's Ofsted rating?

Shaftesbury School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection (7 March 2023).

How does Shaftesbury School perform at GCSE?

Pupils at Shaftesbury School achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 40.1 in 2025/26.

Is Shaftesbury School part of an academy trust?

Yes — Shaftesbury School is part of SHERBORNE AREA SCHOOLS' TRUST.

Where is Shaftesbury School?

Shaftesbury School is located at Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8ER.

Shaftesbury School

Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8ER

Good

Inspected 7 March 2023

Good

Ofsted

40.1

Attainment 8

Secondary

Phase

11–18

Ages

864

Pupils

Mixed

Gender

Academy converter

Type

About Shaftesbury School

Shaftesbury School is an academy converter in Shaftesbury, Dorset, England, for pupils aged 11–18. It has 864 pupils on roll. The school has a Church of England religious character. It is part of SHERBORNE AREA SCHOOLS' TRUST. Its most recent Ofsted inspection (7 March 2023) rated it Good. At GCSE, pupils achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 40.1 (2025/26). 25.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 7.4% have English as an additional language.

School Information

Local Authority: Dorset →
School Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
Age Range: Ages 11–18
Gender: Mixed
Pupils / Capacity: 864 / 1,283 (67%)
Sixth Form: Has a sixth form
Nursery: No Nursery Classes
Religious Character: Church of England
Admissions Policy: Non-selective
Last Ofsted Inspection: 7 March 2023

Pupil profile

2025/26

Who attends this school — useful context if you’re considering teaching here.

25.8%

Free school meals

7.4%

EAL

3.4%

SEN support

17.1%

EHC plan

Source: DfE School Census, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Results & performance

2025/26

Official Department for Education results, pupil destinations and attendance.

GCSE results (Key Stage 4)

40.1

Attainment 8

119 pupils

25.2%

Grade 5+ English & Maths

54.6%

Grade 4+ English & Maths

Progress 8 isn’t published for this year group: their Key Stage 2 baseline (2021 SATs) was cancelled during the pandemic, so a progress measure can’t be calculated. GCSE figures are provisional and may be revised.

Sixth form (Key Stage 5)

C-

A-level average grade

45 students

2.2%

AAB+ (2 facilitating)

55%

To higher education

19%

To top-third universities

Where pupils go next

96%

Sustained destination

89%

Stayed in education

Apprenticeship

Attendance

11.4%

Overall absence

32.2%

Persistent absence

Source: Department for Education performance tables, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Some independent schools’ qualifications (e.g. IGCSEs) are not all reflected in these figures.

Workforce

2024/25

Staffing at this school, with the trend over recent years — useful if you’re considering working here.

55.71

Teachers (FTE)

↓ -5.8 vs 2023/24

15.8

Pupils per teacher

↑ +1.2 vs 2023/24

8.71

Teaching assistants (FTE)

↓ -2.8 vs 2023/24

£47,062

Avg teacher salary

Mean · 11% on leadership pay

↑ +£2,719 vs 2023/24

Teacher vacancies

0% rate

→ 0 vs 2023/24

5.77

Leadership (FTE)

↓ -2.9 vs 2023/24

Data for the 2024/25 academic year (trend lines show 3 years). Source: DfE School Workforce Census, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. State-funded schools only.

School finances

2024-25

How this school is funded and where the money goes — per pupil.

£7,316

Income per pupil

Source: DfE school finance returns (CFR for council-maintained schools, AAR for academies), 2024-25, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Per-pupil figures are calculated from total income/expenditure.

Contact Details

Address: Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8ER
Phone: 01747854498
Headteacher: Stephanie Bowen
Website: http://www.shaftesburyschool.co.uk

Academy Trust

SHERBORNE AREA SCHOOLS' TRUST →

Teaching Jobs

Teaching Assistant

1:1 Learning Support Mentor

PermanentFull time£19,199 - £19,504 · · Grade 5, Scale Point 5-6 (subject to experience)

Closes in 6 daysView & apply

Teacher

PermanentFull time£32,916 - £51,048 · · Teachers' Pay Scale (salary above quoted prior to the 2026 pay award)

Closes in 6 daysView & apply

Teaching Assistant

1:1 Learning Support Mentor

PermanentFull time£19,199 - £19,504 · · Grade 5, Scale Point 5-6 (subject to experience)

Closes in 6 daysView & apply

TeacherDT

Teacher of DT

PermanentFull time£32,916 - £51,048 (FTE) · · Teachers' Pay Scale (salary above quoted prior to the 2026 pay award)

Closes 6 Nov 2026View & apply

TeacherFood Technology

Head of Design and Food Technology

PermanentFull time£32,916 - £51,048 (FTE) · · Teachers' Pay Scale plus a TLR 2.1 (salary above quoted prior to the 2026 pay award)

Closes 6 Nov 2026View & apply

Pastoral & welfare

Senior Behaviour Learning Support Mentor

PermanentFull time£20,936 · · Grade 7, Point 8

Closes 9 Nov 2026View & apply

Applications handled externally

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Frequently asked questions

What type of school is Shaftesbury School?: Shaftesbury School is an academy converter in Shaftesbury, Dorset, England, for pupils aged 11–18.
How many pupils does Shaftesbury School have?: Shaftesbury School has 864 pupils on roll, according to Department for Education data.
What is Shaftesbury School's Ofsted rating?: Shaftesbury School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection (7 March 2023).
How does Shaftesbury School perform at GCSE?: Pupils at Shaftesbury School achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 40.1 in 2025/26.
Is Shaftesbury School part of an academy trust?: Yes — Shaftesbury School is part of SHERBORNE AREA SCHOOLS' TRUST.
Where is Shaftesbury School?: Shaftesbury School is located at Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8ER.

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