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The Thomas Hardye School - Ofsted Report, Parent Reviews (2025)

The Thomas Hardye School
The Thomas Hardye School
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Leadership and management Outstanding
Sixth-form provision Outstanding
Achievement of pupils Outstanding
Quality of teaching Outstanding
Behaviour and safety of pupils Outstanding
Quick insights from ofsted Powered by AI

This insight was generated by AI, based on latest Ofsted report.

Academic Progress: Students achieve exceptionally well across a wide range of subjects.
Behaviour and Attitudes: Students’ behaviour is exemplary. They display a thirst for learning.
Strengths and Challenges: The quality of teaching is outstanding, enabling all students to learn exceptionally well.
Opportunities for Involvement: Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of the school's efforts.
Communication: Strong communication with parents regarding students' progress.
Handling Conflicts and Concerns: Leaders ensure the school is fully inclusive and handle conflicts adeptly.
Actions for Quality Improvement: Effective steps taken to remedy weaker areas in science.
Managing Bullying and Safety: Systems for keeping students safe and secure are meticulously implemented.
Promoting Welfare and Safety: All groups of students feel very safe.
Extracurricular Offerings: Students benefit from an exceptional range of enrichment activities.
Career Counselling Services: The impact of advice and careers guidance is exceptional.
Preparation for Sixth Form: Inspirational teaching in the sixth form ensures all students make outstanding progress.
Managing and Supporting SEND: Specialist provision for students with disabilities and special educational needs is outstanding.
Historical Ofsted reports
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About Us

The Thomas Hardye School is a top rated, Secondary, Co-Ed school located in Dorset County, South West.

It has 2080 students from age 13-18 yr with a student-teacher ratio of 17 : 1.

At this school, 49% of pupils achieved grade 5 or more at GCSE.

96.10% of pupils completing their main study programme.

This school rated Outstanding by recent Ofsted inspection.

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From the The Thomas Hardye School
Being the second son, Thomas needed a job. He found one working for Sir John Paulet, the heir and son of Sir William Paulet, the first Marquis of Winchester, who served as England's Lord Treasurer.
Thomas appears in a number of documents from 1579 onwards that record the beginning of a strong Protestant movement in Dorchester. These documents include the provision of a master for the Free School and a preaching ministry at Holy Trinity church, for which he donated the majority of his modest estate in the area. Thomas appears to have returned to Dorset after the death of his patron. He also appears with his relatives the Brownes and Adyns.
The Hardye family is said to have originated in Jersey.
Due to their pro-English sentiments, the le Hardy family left Normandy for Jersey in the eleventh century. These sentiments appear to have persisted because an Edmond Hardy is listed as having "ostage des peskeuers de Grantchamp" in 1419.
A Jean le Hardy, who arrived in England around 1490, is said to be related to our Hardyes because he was the grandfather of our Thomas.
John Hutchins, a historian from Dorset and a former student of the Free School, advises using the same coat of arms of the two families as evidence, but that is all we have.
Assuming the Hardyes were derived from Jean Le Hardy, it is odd that, if they were aware of it, they did not use their connection to Jersey gentry to claim a Norman pedigree, which was the aspirational gentry's goal at the time.
The issue here may be that one Clement le Hardy, the father of the Jean who immigrated to England, seems to have spent the last of his days in a filthy prison following a dispute with Matthew Baker, Henry VII's choice of governor; if the pedigree had such a bad apple lurking in the very recent past, it was probably best avoided!
The best theory so far for the adoption of the Jersey family crest in Dorset, if there was no real connection, is that Hugh Paulet, a distant relative of Thomas Hardye's patron John Paulet who served as governor of Jersey from 1559, may have told Hardye at some point that his family was "entitled" to use the crest of the Jersey family.
Whatever the reason, the arms came to represent the family and, eventually (and most likely fairly late), the school.
The Dorchester Free School was established in 1567-9 as a Protestant grammar school for the free instruction of local boys in (Latin) grammar prior to attending college (on the site of the Hardye Arcade in South Street).
Robert Cheeke, one of the two Puritan leaders of Dorchester, had rebuilt it by 1618, once more primarily at the town's expense but also on his own.
All that is left of the C17th school is the oak screen, which was built to the west end of the classroom at this period, and the Queen's arms, which are currently on exhibit at the Thomas Hardye School.
and the Free School was transformed into a small Anglican country grammar school run by a succession of pluralist clergymen who appear to have paid little attention to the buildings' condition, which was nearly in ruins by 1824 and appears to have required almost constant repair for the following fifty years.
Thomas Ratsey Maskew served as the last Master of the Free School from 1846 to 1879. He was the inspiration for the names of two characters in Moonfleet by John Meade Falkner, who spent a year there in 1869.
Postcard depicting the facade of the renovated Grammar School in Crickmay after 1883.
As was common during this period, the school was from time to time almost entirely devoid of pupils, and was lucky to survive; it was eventually closed for rebuilding in 1879 by the Charity Commission.
It re-opened in 1883 with the official title of Dorchester Grammar School, with an imposing new Tudorbethan front by Crickmay, but retaining the original schoolroom behind, with a further storey on top.
It took till 1965 to dismantle this school.
Slowly the school grew, building more accommodation including science labs, on the premises between South Street and Charles Street.
Following the Balfour Act of 1902, as education was increasingly funded by the State via the newly- formed County Councils, the school gradually prospered, and eventually moved from the increasingly crowded site in South Street to a healthy site on land purchased from the Duchy of Cornwall, on the hill at Fordington: in 1928 the new school buildings were opened by the Prince of Wales.
In 1928, the Prince of Wales inaugurates the brand-new school in Fordington. ' Hardye's' continued on the Fordington site as a boys' grammar school matched by the 'Green School' or girls' Grammar School in Queen's Avenue, in about 1930.
The Butler Education Act of 1944 gave rise to the Dorchester Secondary Modern School in 1945, at the end of Queen's Avenue.
The three schools became two comprehensive schools, Hardye's boys' at Fordington and Castlefield girls' on the Secondary Modern site, in 1980; these were fed by the two Middle Schools, Dorchester Middle School taking over the Green School site, and St. Osmund's being purpose-built on the SW edge of the Hardye's site.
It was not until 1992 that the merger of the two comprehensive secondary schools created The Thomas Hardye School on the Castlefield site which fulfilled the dream of the sixteenth-century Burgesses of Dorchester in offering, in the one school, 'the necessary education and instruction of Children in all degrees in good Discipline', as had been proposed in the Deed of Endowment 430 years ago in1579.
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Phase of Education Secondary Secondary Secondary
Type Academies Academies Academies
Snobe grade
A
B-
B-
Ofset report Outstanding Good Requires Improvement
Age range 13-18 11-18 11-18
Gender Co-Ed Co-Ed Co-Ed
Student teacher ratio 17.2 - 15.5
Proficient Math - - -
Proficient Read - - -
Grade 5 or above GCSE 49% 98% 34%
Grade 5 or above A Level 15.40% 35.00% 3.10%
Day Fees - - -
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The Thomas Hardye School Reviews
3.3 (4 reviews)
There is lots of resources available for the students which is shown in their nice facilities and lovely grounds however there is a poor teaching quality due to the systemic style of textbook orientated teaching majority of the subjects have. A generally lack of respect shown from teachers to pupils even when going into sixth form you are treated very similarly to secondary. Teachers also have a bias towards students who have been at the...
As a newly joined student to thomas hardye, I literally love it. The academic side of the school is amazing. The teachers and students are really supporting and friendly. Also it has no bullying, which is one of the best things for me. The facilities, extra-currocular activities and everything is absolutely amazing. Highly recommended school for anyone.
Thomas hardye is absolutely an amazing school.... The teachers and students are all really friendly... The academic activities are so good. Also the facilities provided by the school is amazing as well.. Highly recommended...
this school dose not care about anything part from EDUCATION !! they do not take care of things properly . and they only listen to one persons side and believe them
Secondary Exam Result

Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.

School scores School Description
Progress 8 score 0.26 This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4.
Attainment 8 score 48.9 Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications.

Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.

GCSE Results School LA England
Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs 49% 18.54% 29.96%
Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs 75% 30.06% 42.99%

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.

EBacc Results School LA England
Entering EBacc 57% 15.23% 25%
Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above 22% 5.77% 10.88%
Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above 33% 9.46% 15.47%
EBacc average points score 4.32 2.27 2.82

Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.

Pupil destinations School LA England
Pupils staying in education or employment 96% 81.61% 90.52%
Total number of pupils included in destination measures 448 146 144
Pupils staying in education 90% 75.26% 84.15%
Further education college or other further education provider 26% 33.35% 32.75%
School sixth forms 63% 31.57% 29.73%
Sixth form colleges SP 0.13% 10.22%
Other education destinations SP 10.17% 11.48%
Pupils in apprenticeships 2% 3.35% 2.8%
Pupils staying in employment 4% 3% 3.59%

Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.

School scores School Description
Progress 8 score 0.19 This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4.
Attainment 8 score 51.5 Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications.

Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.

GCSE Results School LA England
Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs 54% 21.85% 32.78%
Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs 75% 34.33% 45.26%

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.

EBacc Results School LA England
Entering EBacc 59% 18.03% 24.88%
Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above 32% 8.18% 12.99%
Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above 41% 11.45% 17.14%
EBacc average points score 4.6 2.57 2.97

Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.

Pupil destinations School LA England
Pupils staying in education or employment 95% 94.1% 90.39%
Total number of pupils included in destination measures 450 157 140
Pupils staying in education 91% 88% 86.27%
Further education college or other further education provider 28% 38.43% 34.03%
School sixth forms 62% 35.76% 30.75%
Sixth form colleges 0% 0.14% 10.38%
Other education destinations SP 13.86% 11.13%
Pupils in apprenticeships 2% 3.43% 1.99%
Pupils staying in employment 2% 2.62% 2.15%

Exam Result Not Published

Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.

Exam Result Not Published

Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.

Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.

School scores School Description
Progress 8 score 0.35 This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4.
Attainment 8 score 52 Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications.

Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.

GCSE Results School LA England
Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs 54% 8 18.97% 29.24%
Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs 78% 1 30.84% 43.34%

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.

EBacc Results School LA England
Entering EBacc 65% 18.94% 25.76%
Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above 24% 6 6.69% 11.44%
Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above 37% 3 10.5% 16.45%
EBacc average points score 4.66 2.27 2.88

Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.

Pupil destinations School LA England
Pupils staying in education or employment 96% 85.39% 90.21%
Total number of pupils included in destination measures 428 138 135
Pupils staying in education 91% 76.94% 84.08%
Further education college or other further education provider 32% 26.5% 33.3%
School sixth forms 58% 38.5% 31.15%
Sixth form colleges SP 0.11% 8.45%
Other education destinations 1% 11.83% 11.19%
Pupils in apprenticeships 3% 5% 3.4%
Pupils staying in employment 2% 3.39% 2.76%

Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.

School scores School Description
Progress 8 score 0.57 This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4.
Attainment 8 score 54 Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications.

Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.

GCSE Results School LA England
Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs 62% 8 23.38% 29.18%
Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs 77% 5 37.28% 42.58%

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.

EBacc Results School LA England
Entering EBacc 58% 20.14% 24.69%
Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above 30% 8.93% 11.29%
Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above 40% 9 13.17% 15.97%
EBacc average points score 4.83 2.61 2.84

Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.

Pupil destinations School LA England
Pupils staying in education or employment 98% 78.06% 84.86%
Total number of pupils included in destination measures 464 152 140
Pupils staying in education 92% 61% 73.88%
Further education college or other further education provider 28% 24% 28.32%
School sixth forms 63% 35.65% 31.51%
Sixth form colleges - 0.24% 9.07%
Other education destinations - 8.47% 5.94%
Pupils in apprenticeships 5% 3.71% 2.96%
Pupils staying in employment 1% 2% 2.06%

Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.

School scores School Description
Progress 8 score 0.36 This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4.
Attainment 8 score 50.5 Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications.

Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.

GCSE Results School LA England
Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs 54% 23% 29.51%
Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs 72% 37.29% 43.04%

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.

EBacc Results School LA England
Entering EBacc 57% 23.07% 25.21%
Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above 30% 10.39% 14.68%
Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above 31% 12.11% 16.23%
EBacc average points score - - -

Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.

Pupil destinations School LA England
Pupils staying in education or employment 97% 84.56% 85.23%
Total number of pupils included in destination measures 457 163 144
Pupils staying in education 95% 63.88% 58.15%
Further education college or other further education provider 31% 23.25% 30.56%
School sixth forms 62% 41.56% 32.11%
Sixth form colleges - 0% 8.95%
Other education destinations - 8.56% 5.75%
Pupils in apprenticeships 4% 5.31% 4.78%
Pupils staying in employment 2% 2.31% 2.46%
A level exam result

Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.

A level Result School LA England
Average points 35.74 31.35 29.99
Average grade B- - -
Average points (Best 3) 35.44 30.77 29.55
Average Grade (Best 3) B- - -
AAB or higher 15.40% 11.82% 13.64%

Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.

Students destinations School LA England
Number of students 395 154 201
Students staying in education 53% 45.92% 58.59%
Students entering apprenticeships 4% 6.69% 6.08%
Students entering employment 33% 32.38% 21.14%
Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study 8% 9.38% 9.05%

Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.

A level Result School LA England
Average points 38.76 37.79 33.4
Average grade B - -
Average points (Best 3) 38.46 37.55 32.48
Average Grade (Best 3) B - -
AAB or higher 21.7% 18.72% 17.69%

Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.

Students destinations School LA England
Number of students 371 176 248
Students staying in education 56% 48.69% 60.66%
Students entering apprenticeships 5% 5.38% 5%
Students entering employment 29% 29.69% 17.72%
Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study 8% 11.85% 10.7%

Exam Result Not Published

Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 A level school exam
results were not published at school level.

Exam Result Not Published

Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 A level school exam
results were not published at school level.

Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.

A level Result School LA England
Average points 34.59 28.56 29.38
Average grade C+ - -
Average points (Best 3) 35.51 28.14 28.64
Average Grade (Best 3) B- - -
AAB or higher 16.5% 10.79% 13.04%

Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.

Students destinations School LA England
Number of students 332 187 231
Students staying in education 59% 45.92% 57.28%
Students entering apprenticeships 4% 8% 7.78%
Students entering employment 29% 32.42% 20.99%
Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study 7% 10.17% 8.8%

Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.

A level Result School LA England
Average points 34.72 27.97 29.02
Average grade C+ - -
Average points (Best 3) 35.20 1 27.64 28.82
Average Grade (Best 3) B- - -
AAB or higher 16.9% 11.45% 13.34%

Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.

Students destinations School LA England
Number of students 31 5 3
Students staying in education 103 41.83% 31.48%
Students entering apprenticeships 5% 7.33% 5.54%
Students entering employment 28% 24.92% 15.8%
Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study 6% 5.08% 4.22%

Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.

A level Result School LA England
Average points 34.66 27.58 26.73
Average grade C+ - -
Average points (Best 3) 36.38 28.75 27.74
Average Grade (Best 3) B- - -
AAB or higher 18.8% 12.01% 12.63%

Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.

Students destinations School LA England
Number of students 29 7 3
Students staying in education 98 44.33% 36.22%
Students entering apprenticeships 3% 7.67% 6.37%
Students entering employment 27% 28.25% 20.04%
Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study 7% 5.33% 4.23%
Best Schools 2025
The Thomas Hardye School Rankings

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Holidays & terms

Holidays 2024/25

Holidays Date
Autumn Half Term Holidays 28th Oct 2024 - 1st Nov 2024
Winter Holidays 23rd Dec 2024 - 3rd Jan 2025
Spring Half Term Holidays 17th Feb 2025 - 21st Feb 2025
Spring Holidays 7th Apr 2025 - 21st Apr 2025
Summer Half Term Holidays 26th May 2025 - 30th May 2025
Summer Holidays 24th Jul 2025 - 29th Aug 2025

Terms Dates 2024/25

Terms Dates
Autumn Term 3rd Sep 2024 - 27th Oct 2024
Autumn Term-2 2nd Nov 2024 - 22nd Dec 2024
Spring Term 4th Jan 2025 - 16th Feb 2025
Spring Term-2 22nd Feb 2025 - 6th Apr 2025
Summer Term 22nd Apr 2025 - 25th May 2025
Summer Term-2 31st May 2025 - 23rd Jul 2025
Students Teachers
17 : 1
Student teacher ratio at The Thomas Hardye School
Local authority ratio 18 : 1

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