Shaftesbury School

Shaftesbury School is 11-18 school with just over than 800 pupils on roll. Shaftesbury School has been successful in gaining good results for its students at both GCSE and A-level. The Sixth Form students have an excellent record of success in gaining university entrance.  We are a proud school which attracts students from around the local Dorset area.

Shaftesbury School has been a place of learning for over 300 years. The school and town have seen many changes over the years but what has not changed is our commitment to education. Our intention is to deliver a broad and balanced school curriculum which is dynamic and challenging for all learners and to reflect our school’s rich cultural diversity.

Our curriculum is built on a strongly held belief that effective learning takes place when literacy, questioning, challenge, engagement, feedback and progress are apparent and a commitment to a curriculum intent that provides for both knowledge acquisition and the development of key skills needed for their next stage in life. This is set in a Christian context that promotes inclusivity. Every student is encouraged to be autonomous learners with high aspirations. We want our students to believe in themselves and be actively engaged in their learning, seeing the connection between the knowledge that they learn in school with the lifelong personal and academic skills that they need to fulfil what they want to become tomorrow.

We promote the highest expectations of our students and encourage everyone to be the best they can be. Our core Christian values are BEST- Belonging Empathy Service Thrive. Our guiding principle, “Being the Best You Can Be,” is deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly his second commandment, “Love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39). This biblical wisdom illuminates our commitment to nurturing a community of compassionate, inclusive, and empathetic individuals.

Shaftesbury School is a wonderful place to work and has a special atmosphere and feel. It became an Academy in June 2014 to sustain the quality of our outstanding provision. We joined SAST in July 2020 and are now part of a family of 18 schools in the local area.

Shaftesbury is a beautiful rural country town that has easy road and close rail links to London, Bath, Bristol, Exeter and the glorious Dorset coast. North Dorset and the south-west of England combines the space and beauty of the Dorset countryside with a variety of famous sites, events, and activities for all.