Best Schools in Bournemouth

How many schools are there in Bournemouth?

Bournemouth has 49 open schools: 29 state primary, 12 state secondary or all-through, 5 independent and 3 special.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Which schools in Bournemouth are rated Outstanding?

12 schools in Bournemouth were rated Outstanding at their most recent graded Ofsted inspection: St Katharine's Church of England Primary School, Bournemouth School for Girls, Avonwood Primary School, Bournemouth School, Avonbourne Boys' Academy and 7 more. Counting Good as well, 95% of the 44 graded schools here are rated Good or better. Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall grades in September 2024, so these are the grades from each school's last full inspection.

St Katharine's Church of England Primary SchoolBournemouth School for GirlsAvonwood Primary SchoolBournemouth SchoolAvonbourne Boys' Academy

Source: Ofsted

Which secondary schools in Bournemouth get the best GCSE results?

Of the 14 schools in Bournemouth with 2026 GCSE results, the highest Attainment 8 scores - the average grade across a pupil's best eight GCSEs - were at Bournemouth School for Girls (selective grammar), with an Attainment 8 score of 72 and 95% passing English and maths at grade 5 or above; Bournemouth School (selective grammar), with an Attainment 8 score of 71.2 and 93% passing English and maths at grade 5 or above; and Glenmoor Academy, with an Attainment 8 score of 59.3 and 82% passing English and maths at grade 5 or above. Selective schools admit by ability, so their raw results are not a like-for-like comparison with comprehensives. Progress 8, the DfE's value-added measure, was not published for 2026.

Bournemouth School for GirlsBournemouth SchoolGlenmoor Academy

Source: DfE school performance data

Which primary schools in Bournemouth have the best SATs results?

Of the 27 primary schools in Bournemouth with 2025 Key Stage 2 results, the highest shares of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading and maths were at St. Walburga's Catholic Primary School (98% in reading, 98% in maths); Moordown St John's Church of England Primary School (93% in reading, 93% in maths); and Winton Primary School (89% in reading, 93% in maths). Small schools can swing a long way from one year to the next, because each pupil is a large share of the result.

St. Walburga's Catholic Primary SchoolMoordown St John's Church of England Primary SchoolWinton Primary School

Source: DfE school performance data

Are there grammar schools in Bournemouth?

Yes. Bournemouth School and Bournemouth School for Girls are state grammar schools in Bournemouth. Grammar schools admit pupils by ability through an entrance test, usually sat at the start of Year 6.

Bournemouth SchoolBournemouth School for Girls

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

How close do you need to live to get into schools in Bournemouth?

It depends on the school, and the cut-off moves every year with the number of applications. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole published how far the last place offered went at these schools: Avonbourne Boys' Academy, 1.663 miles for 2026 entry; Avonbourne Girls Academy, 3.652 miles for 2026 entry; The Bourne Academy, 1.003 miles for 2026 entry; Avonwood Primary School, 0.755 miles for 2024 entry; Bearwood Primary and Nursery School, 1.097 miles for 2024 entry. We hold figures for 14 schools in Bournemouth; each school's page has its own history. These are the authority's own figures, not fixed boundaries.

Avonbourne Boys' AcademyAvonbourne Girls AcademyThe Bourne AcademyAvonwood Primary SchoolBearwood Primary and Nursery School

Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole admissions booklets

How do I apply for a school place in Bournemouth?

Apply to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole through its coordinated admissions process, even for academies and faith schools. In England the closing date is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts. Independent schools run their own admissions, so apply to those directly.