Dorchester Learning Centre is a pupil referral unit in Dorchester, Dorset, for children and young people aged 5 to 18.
- Ages 5–18
- 54 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
School details
- Type
- Pupil referral unit
- Ages
- 5 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 54 (places for 59)
- Headteacher
- Mr David Dinsmore (Headteacher)
- Opened
- 26 February 2001
- Free school meals
- 69.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Dorset
- School reference (URN)
- 130316
How to get a place
3 steps
- Talk to your child’s school or the council
Places in alternative provision are usually arranged by your child’s current school or Dorset council, rather than applied for directly.
- If your child has an EHC plan
The placement should be agreed through the plan, with you involved in the decision.
- Get free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can explain your options and come to meetings with you.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Good, May 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Monkton Park, Winterborne Monkton, Dorchester, DT2 9PS
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- The Prince of Wales School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–9 0.8 miles
- The Thomas Hardye School Mainstream + base · Ages 13–18 1.0 mile
- Dorchester Middle School Mainstream + base · Ages 9–13 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.0 mile
By need in Dorset: Autism (13) · Speech and language (11) · Moderate learning (9) · Physical (7) · SEMH (6) · Dyslexia and SpLD (5) · Severe learning (4) · Multi-sensory (4) · Hearing (3) · Vision (3) · PMLD (2)
Questions about Dorchester Learning Centre
How do I get a place at Dorchester Learning Centre?
Places at Dorchester Learning Centre are usually arranged by your child’s current school or Dorset council rather than applied for directly. If your child has an EHC plan, the placement should be agreed through it.
What ages does Dorchester Learning Centre take?
Aged 5 to 18, boys and girls.
What is Dorchester Learning Centre’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2022 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is Dorchester Learning Centre?
Monkton Park, Winterborne Monkton, Dorchester, DT2 9PS, in Dorset.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.