This schoolOther secondary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 28 June 2023Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
- 31 October 2017Graded inspection: Good
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry525 applications · 256 places offered · 256 named it first
- 2026 2.1; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.7
- 2025 1.8; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.3
- 2024 1.9; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
- 2023 2.2; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
- 2022 2.2; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
- 2021 2.1; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.6
- 2020 2.1; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.0
- 2019 2.2; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.1
- 2018 2.2; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
- 2017 2.2; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
- 2016 2.3; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.3
- 2015 2.1; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.1
- 2014 2.2; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
- This school
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 256 | 525 | 2.1 | 256 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2025 | 252 | 463 | 1.8 | 249 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2024 | 289 | 545 | 1.9 | 259 | 0.90 |
| Sep 2023 | 258 | 554 | 2.2 | 299 | 1.16 |
| Sep 2022 | 270 | 585 | 2.2 | 301 | 1.11 |
| Sep 2021 | 262 | 557 | 2.1 | 256 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2020 | 262 | 561 | 2.1 | 293 | 1.12 |
| Sep 2019 | 262 | 563 | 2.2 | 257 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2018 | 228 | 504 | 2.2 | 226 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2017 | 229 | 504 | 2.2 | 216 | 0.94 |
| Sep 2016 | 227 | 516 | 2.3 | 249 | 1.10 |
| Sep 2015 | 258 | 537 | 2.1 | 278 | 1.08 |
| Sep 2014 | 210 | 455 | 2.2 | 203 | 0.97 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 244 | 48.1 | 50% | 73% | – |
| 2024/25 | 254 | 47.0 | 46% | 75% | – |
| 2023/24 | 235 | 50.6 | 55% | 77% | −0.05 |
| 2022/23 | 236 | 48.0 | 48% | 73% | −0.18 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- Highcliffe SchoolThis schoolThis schoolRemains Good20232.1applications per place 48.1Attainment 8
- 2.5 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole20262.7applications per place 39.8Attainment 8
- 4.1 km · HampshireSerious weaknesses 20261.5applications per place 40.4Attainment 8
- 4.5 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleGood20243.1applications per place 48.4Attainment 8
- 5.6 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleGood20233.7applications per place 49.2Attainment 8
- 7.5 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleOutstanding20233.1applications per place 47.4Attainment 8
- 7.5 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleGraded · no overall grade20242.7applications per place 54.0Attainment 8
- 9.0 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleGood20233.2applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
- 9.2 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleOutstanding20242.2applications per place 72.0Attainment 8 Selective
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
School details
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 136763 · 839/5406
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,461 pupils · 1,519 on roll
- Free school meals
- 15.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 June 2011
- Replaced
- Highcliffe School (URN 113906)
- Address
- Parkside, Highcliffe, Christchurch, BH23 4QD
- Local authority
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources