directly by the Department for Education. In 2017, the Progress 8 score for schools in the Dorset Council area was ranked below average, and 39.6% of pupils gained at least Grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs matching the national average of 39.6%. Poole recorded an above average Progress 8 score and 54% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs. Bournemouth was ranked as average and 47.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs. Dorset contains a range of privately funded independent schools. Many are boarding schools which also take day pupils, such as the co-educational Canford School which is built around a 19th-century Grade I listed manor house; and Sherborne School, a boys' school founded in the 16th century. Four of the county's five largest towns contain a further education college: Weymouth College, Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester and Bournemouth and Poole College which is one of the largest in the UK. Dorset has two higher education establishments situated in the heart of the county's south east conurbation. Bournemouth University has facilities across Bournemouth and Poole and over 17,000 students. Previously named Bournemouth Polytechnic, it was granted university status as a result of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The Arts University Bournemouth is situated between the border of Poole and Bournemouth. It became a higher education institute in 2001 and was given degree-awarding powers in 2008. It was granted full university status in 2012. See also Custos Rotulorum of Dorset—list of keepers of the rolls for Dorset Dorset—list of MPs for the abolished Dorset county constituency List of High Sheriffs of Dorset List of hills of Dorset Dorset Police Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council - Unitary council replacing the 3 previous councils in 2019 Dorset heraldry Footnotes Notes References Hinton, David A. (1998). Saxons & Vikings. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. ISBN 1-874336-50-4 External links Dorset County Museum Images of Dorset at the English Heritage Archive Dorset AONB Non-metropolitan counties Counties of England established in antiquity Counties in South West England