Ad Astra Infant School, Poole
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Ad Astra excels at including and supporting every child, especially those with additional needs or facing challenges. Staff build caring relationships with pupils and families, ensuring no child is left behind. The school provides a rich, ambitious curriculum with a particular strength in phonics and early reading, alongside wonderful opportunities for personal development like music lessons and community involvement.
Key Strengths
- Excellent inclusion and support for pupils with SEND - bespoke curriculum in 'pups' and 'otters' classes with expert pastoral care
- Phonics teaching is a particular strength with Year 1 phonics screening results significantly above the national average
- High-quality early years curriculum with strong focus on reading and communication from the start
- Positive behavior and attendance above national average due to strong relationships with families
- Rich personal development opportunities including music lessons, visits to local community, and wellbeing programs
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils occasionally struggle to connect current learning with previously taught content in some wider curriculum subjects
- Checks on pupils' understanding of new concepts in some subjects could be more precise to help them build knowledge better over time
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Music lessons, sports clubs (adapted for all abilities), school council, visits to local residential homes, senior citizen afternoon tea events, wellbeing ambassador program
Ad Astra Infant School is an inclusive school where leaders are relentless in ensuring all pupils, particularly those with additional needs or facing barriers to learning, achieve well and thrive. The school has a strong focus on reading, phonics, and pastoral support with above-average attendance and a calm, purposeful learning environment.
At a Glance
16.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
28.1
Avg class size
28.1
Infant (KS1)
9
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
257 pupils
270 capacity
13 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Poole
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Poole
Admissions Demand - Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Places available
3,915
Applications
3,469
Got 1st preference
89.0%
Got preferred school
97.6%
Primary admissions across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (2025/26)
Inspection History(4)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.76639%
Overall absence
8.77193%
Persistent absence
171
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Ad Astra Infant School
Magna Academy
Montacute School
Poole Grammar School
Longspee Academy
St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole
Parkstone Grammar School
Broadstone Middle School
Winchelsea School
St Aldhelm's Academy
The Lion Works School
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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