Montacute School, Poole
Montacute School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 18 in Poole. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Montacute School in detail
Montacute School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a privilege to be the Headteacher of Montacute School. I never tire of the wonderful things that our children and young people achieve every day and being a part of their journey!"
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Montacute School are Longspee Academy (0.8 miles, Good); Winchelsea School (2.2 miles, Good); The Lion Works School (2.3 miles); and South West Regional Assessment Centre (2.3 miles).
Longspee AcademyWinchelsea SchoolThe Lion Works SchoolSouth West Regional Assessment Centre
Where pupils go next
Of the 7 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
43.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 17.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Montacute School has an education, health and care plan (97 of 97 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Montacute School provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Poole Rail Station, about 2.2 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Montacute School (e-bound), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 107 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (223).
Suspensions and exclusions
Montacute School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from April 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its April 2017 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
43.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Montacute School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Montacute School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Montacute 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
- 35
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 26 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
10 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
99%
Near capacity
97 pupils
98 places
1 spare place
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Poole
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Poole
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(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
97
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Montacute School provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
97
Total Pupils
60
Boys
37
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
5.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,949
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.4%
Overall absence
30.3%
Persistent absence
76
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
Montacute School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Montacute School
What are SATs results like at Montacute School?
Of the pupils at Montacute School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Montacute School's Ofsted rating?
Montacute School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Montacute School?
No fixed boundary. When Montacute 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 Montacute School?
Montacute School has around 97 pupils on roll. 43% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Montacute School have specialist SEN provision?
Montacute School provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Montacute School?
10.4% of sessions were missed at Montacute School in 2024/25. 30.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Montacute School?
Apply through Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's coordinated admissions process, naming Montacute 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 Montacute School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 26 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 10 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 Montacute School?
Montacute School is at 3 Canford Heath Road, Poole, Dorset, BH17 9NG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)