Dorset

Who these dates actually bind

Since 2013, academies, free schools, voluntary aided and foundation schools have set their own term dates. Only community and voluntary controlled schools must follow the council. In Dorset that splits like this.

We don’t have Dorset’s term dates yet

When we have them they will apply to the 29 community and voluntary controlled schools below.

Schools in Dorset

Largest first. 182 in total.

1. The Thomas Hardye School Academy converter · Dorchester Sets own dates 2,014 pupils
2. Lytchett Minster School Foundation school · Poole Sets own dates 1,624 pupils
3. The Gryphon School Academy converter · Sherborne Sets own dates 1,569 pupils
4. Budmouth Academy Weymouth Academy sponsor led · Weymouth Sets own dates 1,466 pupils
5. Queen Elizabeth's School Academy converter · Wimborne Sets own dates 1,375 pupils
6. Ferndown Upper School Community school · Ferndown Follows council 1,134 pupils
7. The Blandford School Voluntary controlled school · Blandford Forum Follows council 1,103 pupils
8. The Purbeck School Academy converter · Wareham Sets own dates 1,022 pupils
9. Wey Valley Academy Academy converter · Weymouth Sets own dates 994 pupils
10. The Woodroffe School Foundation school · Lyme Regis Sets own dates 886 pupils
11. Shaftesbury School Academy converter · Shaftesbury Sets own dates 782 pupils
12. Bryanston School Other independent school · Blandford Forum Sets own dates 776 pupils
13. Atlantic Academy Portland Academy sponsor led · Portland Sets own dates 769 pupils
14. The Sir John Colfox Academy Academy converter · Bridport Sets own dates 756 pupils
15. St Osmund's Church of England Middle School Academy converter · Dorchester Sets own dates 714 pupils
16. Beaminster School Voluntary controlled school · Beaminster Follows council 673 pupils
17. Sturminster Newton High School Academy converter · Sturminster Newton Sets own dates 605 pupils
18. Ferndown Middle School Academy converter · Ferndown Sets own dates 600 pupils
19. All Saints' Church of England Academy Academy sponsor led · Weymouth Sets own dates 598 pupils
20. Leweston School Other independent school · Sherborne Sets own dates 577 pupils
21. St Michael's Church of England Middle School, Colehill Academy converter · Wimborne Sets own dates 563 pupils
22. Sherborne School Other independent school · Sherborne Sets own dates 538 pupils
23. Dorchester Middle School Academy converter · Dorchester Sets own dates 527 pupils
24. Allenbourn Middle School Academy converter · Wimborne Sets own dates 499 pupils
25. Lytchett Matravers Primary School Academy converter · Poole Sets own dates 484 pupils
26. Damers First School Academy converter · Dorchester Sets own dates 475 pupils
27. Holy Trinity Church of England VC Primary School & Community Nursery Voluntary controlled school · Weymouth Follows council 471 pupils
28. Sherborne School for Girls Other independent school · Sherborne Sets own dates 456 pupils
29. St Mary's Church of England Middle School, Puddletown Academy converter · Dorchester Sets own dates 441 pupils
30. Radipole Primary School Community school · Weymouth Follows council 437 pupils
31. Lockyer's Middle School Academy converter · Wimborne Sets own dates 436 pupils
32. Emmanuel Church of England Middle School Academy sponsor led · Verwood Sets own dates 434 pupils
33. Chickerell Primary Academy Academy converter · Weymouth Sets own dates 420 pupils
34. Clayesmore School Other independent school · Blandford Forum Sets own dates 414 pupils
35. Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School Academy converter · Blandford Forum Sets own dates 411 pupils
36. St George's Foundation Primary School Foundation school · Portland Sets own dates 406 pupils
37. Wimborne First School and Nursery Academy converter · Wimborne Sets own dates 400 pupils
38. Manor Park Church of England First School Academy sponsor led · Dorchester Sets own dates 396 pupils
39. Upton Junior School Academy converter · Poole Sets own dates 351 pupils
40. The Swanage School Free schools · Swanage Sets own dates 349 pupils
41. Ferndown First School Academy converter · Ferndown Sets own dates 348 pupils
42. Sandford St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Voluntary aided school · Wareham Sets own dates 342 pupils
43. Wyke Regis Church of England Junior School Voluntary controlled school · Weymouth Follows council 340 pupils
44. Dumpton School Other independent school · Wimborne Sets own dates 338 pupils
45. Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School Academy converter · Sherborne Sets own dates 336 pupils
46. Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School Academy converter · Shaftesbury Sets own dates 333 pupils
47. Dorset Studio School Studio schools · Dorchester Sets own dates 332 pupils
48. Conifers Primary School Community school · Weymouth Follows council 324 pupils
49. Parley First School Academy converter · Ferndown Sets own dates 313 pupils
50. Rushcombe First School Community school · Wimborne Follows council 313 pupils
51. Port Regis Preparatory School Other independent school · Shaftesbury Sets own dates 305 pupils
52. Sherborne Primary School Academy converter · Sherborne Sets own dates 304 pupils
53. Bincombe Valley Primary School Community school · Weymouth Follows council 291 pupils
54. Verwood Church of England First School Academy converter · Verwood Sets own dates 289 pupils
55. Bridport Primary School Academy converter · Bridport Sets own dates 267 pupils
56. Cranborne Middle School Community school · Wimborne Follows council 265 pupils
57. Upton Infant School Academy converter · Poole Sets own dates 250 pupils
58. Ringwood Waldorf School Other independent school · Ringwood Sets own dates 248 pupils
59. St Ives Primary & Nursery School Academy converter · Ringwood Sets own dates 245 pupils
60. St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School Academy converter · Gillingham Sets own dates 242 pupils

About this page

Establishment data from Get Information about Schools, as at 31 August 2026. The split between bound and self-setting schools is derived from each school’s establishment type, not estimated.

Do you publish this calendar?

Point us at the official term dates for Dorset and they will be published here, credited to the council.