Best primary schools in Swanage (2026)
Swanage has 3 ranked primary schools with published results. The top-ranked is St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage, in the top 43% in England. The average reading, writing & maths here in 2025 was 52%, against 62% for England. 0 are in England's top 10%, and 0 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
| Rank | School | Reading, writing & maths (2023–2025 average) | Reading, writing & maths 2025 | Trend | Higher standard | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 43% in England |
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage Swanage · Roman Catholic |
67% | 65% | 0% | Good | |
2 Bottom 13% in England |
Swanage Primary School Swanage |
47% | 47% | 3% | Good | |
3 Bottom 13% in England |
Swanage St Mark's Church of England Primary School Swanage · Church of England |
45% | 43% | 11% | No rating |
Other towns in Dorset
- Blandford Forum
- Bournemouth
- Bridport
- Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
- Gillingham (Dorset)
- Poole
- Weymouth
- Wool
Also see
Questions
What is the best primary school in Swanage?
On exam results over the last three years, St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage is the top-ranked primary school in Swanage, in the top 43% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.