Located in Dorchester, The Thomas Hardye School is a secondary school, serving pupils aged 13 to 18. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It has a none religious character. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
The Thomas Hardye School currently has around 2051 pupils on roll, which is about 96% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 46.6% boys and 53.4% girls. Around 18.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The school has a diverse intake across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 11.6%. Persistent absence is recorded at 33.6%. The school also includes resourced provision, supporting 10 pupils.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (85.2%).
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 96% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (91%) , including 58% who stay in school sixth forms and 32% progressing to further education , while 3% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Queen's Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2ET |
| Website: | www.ths.wessex.ac |
| Telephone: | 01305266064 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Dorset |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr N St J F Rutherford |
| Religious character: | None |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 137163 |
Ofsted inspection date: 04/02/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 13 - 18 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 2138 |
| Number of Pupils: | 2051 |
| Number of Boys: | 956 |
| Number of Girls: | 1095 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 11.6% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 33.6% | 8.2% |
| White British | 85.20% | 1747 |
| Other White | 3.60% | 74 |
| White and Asian | 1.90% | 38 |
| Indian | 1.80% | 37 |
| Other Mixed | 1.60% | 32 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 1.30% | 26 |
| Other Asian | 1.00% | 21 |
| Unclassified | 0.70% | 15 |
| Chinese | 0.50% | 11 |
| Pakistani | 0.50% | 10 |
| Other Black | 0.40% | 9 |
| Irish | 0.40% | 8 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.30% | 7 |
| White and Black African | 0.30% | 7 |
| African | 0.30% | 7 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.00% | 1 |
| Caribbean | 0.00% | 1 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Prince of Wales School Maiden Castle Road , DT1 2HH | - not rated | 469 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Damers First School Liscombe Street , Poundbury DT1 3DF | 3out of 4 | 1,100 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Damers First School Liscombe Street , Poundbury DT1 3DF | - not rated | 1,100 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Manor Park Church of England First School Mellstock Avenue , DT1 2BH | - not rated | 1,849 yd | Voluntary controlled school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester Lucetta Lane , DT1 2DD | 3out of 4 | 1,871 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Thomas Hardye School Queen's Avenue , DT1 2ET | - not rated | 0 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Thomas Hardye School Queen's Avenue , DT1 2ET | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Castlefield School Queen's Avenue , DT1 2ET | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Hardyes School Barnes Way , DT1 2DB | - not rated | 1,698 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester Middle School Queen's Avenue , DT1 2HS | - not rated | 398 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Dorchester Middle School Queen's Avenue , DT1 2HS | 2out of 4 | 398 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Osmund's Church of England Middle School Barnes Way , DT1 2DZ | - not rated | 1,748 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Osmund's Church of England Middle School Barnes Way , DT1 2DZ | 3out of 4 | 1,748 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Osmund's Church of England Voluntary Aided Middle School, Dorchester Barnes Way , Rothesay Road DT1 2DZ | - not rated | 1,748 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maiden Castle School Maiden Castle Road , DT1 2HH | - not rated | 469 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Genevieve's Convent School South Court , South Walks DT1 1EB | - not rated | 1,688 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Sunninghill Preparatory School South Court , South Walks Road DT1 1EB | - not rated | 1,688 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Penwithen School Winterborne Monkton , DT2 9PS | - not rated | 1,800 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Dorchester Preparatory School 25-26 Icen Way , DT1 1EP | - not rated | 1,871 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.