St Aldhelm's Academy, Poole
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 6 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school has made decisive improvements to behaviour and created a calmer, more orderly environment. Leaders provide excellent careers guidance and support, helping pupils understand their next steps after school. The school offers ambitious enrichment opportunities and is committed to supporting pupils' wellbeing through community partnerships.
Key Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met with an open culture where concerns are actively managed
- Careers advice and guidance is comprehensive with work experience and careers fair opportunities
- Recent decisive action on behaviour has reduced low-level disruption and created a calmer school environment
- Leaders have accurate understanding of weaknesses and are taking appropriate action including new curricula and professional learning programmes
- Staff feel well supported through strengthened professional learning, particularly those early in their careers
Areas for Improvement
- Pupil achievement is significantly below expectations - many leave without essential knowledge in English and maths
- Teaching quality is inconsistent due to staff turnover and some teachers lacking expertise to deliver new curriculum effectively
- Attendance remains below national averages, particularly for pupils with SEND
- Support for pupils with SEND is inconsistent and barriers to learning are not removed effectively
- Pupils lack sense of belonging and pride in school, with variable relationships with staff
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with leaders fulfilling their responsibilities and establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Residential trips to farm and ski trip, music programme, science and technology workshops, boxing programme with mentoring, youth group links, work experience, careers fair, clubs
St Aldhelm's Academy requires significant improvement across most areas. The school has experienced leadership instability and high staff turnover, though recent action by the new trust partnership is beginning to create positive change.
At a Glance
45.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
24.7
Avg class size
34
Total classes
6 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
90%
Near capacity
808 pupils
900 capacity
92 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Poole
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Poole
Admissions Demand - Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Places available
4,071
Applications
3,669
Got 1st preference
85.9%
Got preferred school
96.5%
Secondary admissions across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (2025/26)
Inspection History(10)
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
12.95942%
Overall absence
34.0564%
Persistent absence
922
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
St Aldhelm's Academy
Manorside Academy
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Poole
Livingstone Road Junior School
Livingstone Road Infant School
Heatherlands Primary School
Talbot Primary School
Courthill Infant School
Bishop Aldhelm's Church of England Primary School
Heathlands Primary Academy
St Mark's Church of England Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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