Linwood School, Bournemouth
Linwood School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Bournemouth. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Linwood School in detail
Linwood School in its own words
Coming up: an admissions event on Tuesday 10 November 2026 and an admissions event on Thursday 19 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Linwood School are Cambian Wing College (0.5 miles, Good); Langside School (1.9 miles, Good); Tregonwell Academy (2 miles, Outstanding); and Victoria Education Centre (2.4 miles, Good).
Cambian Wing CollegeLangside SchoolTregonwell AcademyVictoria Education Centre
What parents say
63 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Linwood School (as of September 2025): 89% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 70% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (70%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 35 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 29% to a further education college.
Who goes there
44.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 14.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Linwood School has an education, health and care plan (437 of 437 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Linwood School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bournemouth Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Heron Court Road (e-bound), 20 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 539 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (223), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Linwood School issued 10 suspensions, 2.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Linwood School excels at understanding each pupil as an individual and tailoring their learning accordingly, whether that means teaching independent travel skills or supporting GCSE study. The school has created a genuinely calm and caring environment where pupils thrive behaviourally and academically, underpinned by strong relationships with staff. From early years through to sixth form, pupils are exceptionally well prepared for adult life with extensive work experience, life skills training and careers guidance.
Key Strengths
- Highly personalised curriculum tailored to each pupil's individual needs and abilities - from practical life skills to GCSEs
- Exceptional behaviour and strong relationships between pupils and staff creating a calm, harmonious learning environment
- Outstanding focus on reading and communication across all areas of the curriculum
- Extensive work-based learning and vocational opportunities preparing pupils for adult life and meaningful futures
- Expert staff supported by leaders with deep knowledge of SEND who continually develop the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders maintaining an open and positive culture that prioritises pupils' interests.
Extracurricular Activities
Work-based learning placements including supermarket, hotel and crafts shop experience, visits to local parks and shops, school trips exploring the community
Linwood School is a special school serving pupils aged 2 to 19 with education, health and care plans across six sites in Bournemouth. Pupils are happy, safe and nurtured while receiving highly personalised learning that prepares them exceptionally well for their next steps.
At a Glance
44.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, SEMH +3
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
63 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Linwood School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Linwood School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Linwood School is in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; for families living there:
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's school travel policy: Home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 65
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 17
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 65 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 17 serious and 48 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 5 in a vehicle or otherwise.
13 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is 24 (the median across 117 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
93%
Near capacity
437 pupils
472 places
35 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Bournemouth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bournemouth
Across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council
Places available
4,119
Applications
3,624
Got 1st preference
86.4%
Got preferred school
96.9%
All secondary applications across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
437
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Linwood School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
437
Total Pupils
295
Boys
142
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
107
Teachers
4.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,694
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.1%
Overall absence
28.7%
Persistent absence
317
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Linwood School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Linwood School
What are GCSE results like at Linwood School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Linwood School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.3. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Linwood School's Ofsted rating?
Linwood School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Linwood School?
No fixed boundary. When Linwood School is oversubscribed, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Linwood School?
Linwood School has around 437 pupils on roll. 44% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Linwood School have specialist SEN provision?
Linwood School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Linwood School?
9.1% of sessions were missed at Linwood School in 2024/25. 28.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Linwood School?
Apply through Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's coordinated admissions process, naming Linwood School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Linwood School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 65 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 17 serious and 48 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 5 in a vehicle or otherwise. 13 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is 24 (the median across 117 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Linwood School?
Linwood School is at Alma Road, Winton, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH9 1AJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)