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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 113882

Gillingham School

Voluntary controlled school · Gillingham · SP8 4QP

Ages 11–18 · 1,684 pupils · Dorset

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

45.7

Overall absence

9.5%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2023-05-10

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.18
−20+2
Attainment 845.7
English & maths grade 5+45%
English & maths grade 4+66%
EBacc entry66%

EBacc APS: 4.1

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence9.5%
Persistent absence (10%+)26.2%
Unauthorised3.3%
Authorised absence
6.2%
Severe absence (50%+)
4.2%
Enrolments in measure
1,419

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.00 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

265

Places offered

264

1st-preference offers

258

Total preferences (any rank)
369
Preferred offers (top 3)
264
Applications from outside LA
123
Offers to outside-LA applicants
76
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill91%

1,684 pupils · 1,850 places

Pupils on roll
1,684
Boys / girls
859 / 825
School capacity
1,850
Capacity fill
1,684 / 1,850 (91%)
Free school meals
20.4%
FSM pupils
282
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary controlled school

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary controlled school
Headteacher
Mr Paul Nicholson

Location

Address
Hardings Lane
Postcode
SP8 4QP
Town
Gillingham
County
Dorset
Local authority
Dorset
District
Dorset
Constituency
North Dorset
Urban/rural
Urban: Further from a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Special classes
No Special Classes
Resourced provision
Resourced provision
Resourced places
8 on roll / 14 capacity

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed voluntary controlled school (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Gillingham, Dorset, 1,684 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 20.4%. SEN provision includes: ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Open schools in Gillingham
43
Secondary schools in Gillingham
7
Academies among open schools in Gillingham
70% (30)
Open schools in SP8
7
Secondary in SP8
1
Open schools in Dorset LA
184
Secondary in Dorset LA
18

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in GillinghamNear SP8

  • Gillingham Primary School

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy converter · Primary

    Gillingham · SP8 4QR · Dorset

    Ages 4–11

    • KS239%
    • Absence5.0%
    • FSM25.0%
    • Demand1.00

    0.2 miles away

  • Wyke Primary School

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Gillingham · SP8 4SH · Dorset

    Ages 4–11

    • Absence5.6%
    • FSM18.0%
    • Demand1.00

    0.9 miles away

  • Motcombe CofE Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Shaftesbury · SP7 9NT · Dorset

    Ages 4–11

    • KS232%
    • Absence5.4%
    • FSM16.4%
    • Demand1.00

    2.3 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Paul Nicholson
Telephone
01747822222
Website
https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/

Official links