Best Schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

How many schools are there in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has 117 open schools: 66 state primary, 25 state secondary or all-through, 7 independent, 15 special and 4 others.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Which schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are rated Outstanding?

17 schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 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 12 more. Counting Good as well, 96% of the 99 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, Christchurch and Poole get the best GCSE results?

Of the 26 schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 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 Poole Grammar School (selective grammar), with an Attainment 8 score of 70.2 and 93% 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 SchoolPoole Grammar School

Source: DfE school performance data

Which primary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have the best SATs results?

Of the 51 primary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 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, Christchurch and Poole?

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

Bournemouth SchoolBournemouth School for GirlsParkstone Grammar SchoolPoole Grammar School

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

How close do you need to live to get into schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?

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; Baden-Powell and St Peter's Church of England Junior School, 2.001 miles for 2024 entry. We hold figures for 23 schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; 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 SchoolBaden-Powell and St Peter's Church of England Junior School

Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole admissions booklets

How do I apply for a school place in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?

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.