Malmesbury Park Primary School, Bournemouth

Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades Malmesbury Park Primary School on 7 areas: 2 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have high expectations of pupils' attendance and engage well with external agencies to support pupils and their families."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have thought carefully about pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, weaknesses in the curriculum and the way it is taught have resulted in pupils having gaps in their knowledge."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "An appropriate curriculum is in place that ensures pupils cover the knowledge they need."

Early years - Needs attention. "Children are happy in the early years, and they know the routines and settle quickly into their activities."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Inconsistencies in the leadership and staffing of inclusion have reduced the effectiveness of the support received by some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Recently, the school has experienced a number of significant changes to leadership and staffing."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that all pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including those in the special educational needs unit, receive the support they need to progress well in their key area of need so that they are prepared for the next stage in their education"; "Leaders should ensure that all subjects in the curriculum clearly sequence the knowledge and skills that pupils need to know and remember. Leaders should then make sure that staff regularly check what pupils know and remember so that pupils build their knowledge securely and any gaps are quickly identified and addressed"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils with gaps in handwriting, spelling and punctuation are given the support they need to quickly become accurate and fluent writers across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that the early years curriculum is consistently well delivered in all areas of learning so that every child has the skills and knowledge they need to do well in the next stage of their education"; "Leaders, including trust leaders, should continue to provide the school with robust support and challenge by checking the impact of the school's work to address its key priorities so that this leads to rapid and sustained improvements".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Malmesbury Park Primary School, a vibrant and inclusive multicultural primary school located in the heart of Bournemouth and proudly part of the Reach South Academy Trust. At Malmesbury Park, we celebrate the rich diversity of cultures, languages and backgrounds that make up our school community."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, multi-sports, dance, coding and art.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Malmesbury Park Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 72% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 75% in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 66% in reading and 64% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 58 families put Malmesbury Park Primary School as their first choice and 160 named it as one of their preferences, for 61 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Malmesbury Park Primary School are Bethany Church of England Junior School (0.6 miles, Good, 64% reading, 56% maths); St Clement's and St John's Church of England Infant School (0.6 miles, Good); King's Park Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 66% reading, 77% maths); and St Luke's Church of England Primary School (1 mile, Requires improvement, 67% reading, 78% maths).

Malmesbury Park Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

Malmesbury Park Primary School is one of 20 schools run by Reach South Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 62% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

48.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (37%), Asian (14%) and Mixed (14%).

Malmesbury Park Primary School has a SEN unit for autism: 12 places, 12 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Bournemouth Rail Station, about 500 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Malmesbury Park Primary School (n-bound), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 822 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (223), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Malmesbury Park Primary School issued 8 suspensions, 1.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Malmesbury Park Primary School are Livingstone Academy Bournemouth (0.6 miles), Bournemouth School (1.2 miles), The Bishop of Winchester Academy (1.3 miles) and Bournemouth School for Girls (1.4 miles).