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Academy sponsor led · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

The Cornerstone Academy

  • 11–16Ages
  • 645Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 139258URN

Blandford Close, Hamworthy, Poole, BH15 4BQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted
Graded GoodJan 2017
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Oct 2022
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.7per place
1.1 below Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median (2.7)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleSelective

161 applications for 96 places · 20th of 21 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
46.7of 90
13th of 23 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Graded GoodJan 2017
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Oct 2022

Inspection history

  1. 19 October 2022
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
  2. 18 January 2017
    Graded 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 entry
1.7applications per place, Year 7
1.1 below Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median (2.7) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

161 applications · 96 places offered · 81 named it first

  1. 2026 1.7; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.7
  2. 2025 1.4; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.3
  3. 2024 1.5; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
  4. 2023 1.1; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
  5. 2022 1.2; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
  6. 2021 1.1; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.6
  7. 2020 1.1; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.0
  8. 2019 0.9; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.1
  9. 2018 1.2; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
  10. 2017 1.7; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
  11. 2016 1.4; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.3
  12. 2015 1.2; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.1
  13. 2014 1.3; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
More applications per place than the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median in 0 of 13 years.
  • 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 2026961611.7810.84
Sep 20251031401.4790.77
Sep 20241151731.51110.97
Sep 20231401551.1830.59
Sep 20221261541.2920.73
Sep 20211311411.1870.66
Sep 20201041151.1790.76
Sep 20191401190.9710.51
Sep 201875911.2560.75
Sep 201752901.7470.90
Sep 201647671.4360.77
Sep 201570821.2600.86
Sep 201468891.3610.90

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

125 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)46.713th of 23 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Grade 5 or above in English and maths57%8th of 23 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Grade 4 or above in English and maths74%
  • This school
  • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.03
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)12546.757%74%–
2024/2510241.037%60%–
2023/2411640.731%59%−0.03
2022/236842.143%60%+0.19

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

  • 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 sponsor led
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
139258 · 839/4003
Trust
United Learning Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
900 pupils · 645 on roll
Free school meals
39.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 April 2013
Replaced
Carter Community School (URN 113865)
Address
Blandford Close, Hamworthy, Poole, BH15 4BQ
Local authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources