The Quay School, Poole
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The Quay School excels at helping pupils who have struggled in mainstream education to re-engage with learning and thrive. Staff combine expert subject knowledge with deep understanding of pupils' emotional and social needs, creating calm, personalised learning environments across multiple campuses. Pupils develop strong academic skills alongside life skills, character development and clear pathways to their next steps through work experience and college connections.
Key Strengths
- Expertly designed, personalised curriculum that meets each pupil's individual learning needs and interests - enabling pupils to excel and develop high aspirations
- Exceptional pupil behaviour and strong positive relationships with staff that help pupils regulate emotions and learn about respect, kindness and friendship
- Outstanding reading support across all curriculum areas, helping pupils extend vocabulary and communication skills
- Impressive outdoor education programme developing decision-making skills and physical abilities
- Highly effective management of complex attendance issues on a bespoke basis, resulting in notable improvements
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Mountain biking, outdoor education programme, coasteering, sea swimming, local parks visits, student council, local employer engagement, college visits
The Quay School is an alternative provision academy for pupils who have been permanently excluded or are at risk of exclusion, serving ages 5-18. The school helps pupils re-engage with learning through a highly personalised curriculum and nurturing environment, with all key inspection areas rated Outstanding.
At a Glance
71.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
20 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
52%
Available places
69 pupils
133 capacity
64 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(3)
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.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Quay School
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Poole
Manorside Academy
Heatherlands Primary School
Livingstone Road Junior School
Livingstone Road Infant School
Courthill Infant School
Bishop Aldhelm's Church of England Primary School
Talbot Primary School
Bournemouth Collegiate Preparatory School
Heathlands Primary Academy
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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