The Stable School, Christchurch
The Stable School is a special school for pupils aged 6 to 16 in Christchurch.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
The Stable School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Stable School are Futures Autism Unlimited (1.7 miles); Connie Rothman School (1.7 miles, selective); Tregonwell Academy (2 miles, Outstanding); and Cambian Wing College (3.3 miles, Good).
Futures Autism UnlimitedConnie Rothman SchoolTregonwell AcademyCambian Wing College
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Stable School (as of September 2025): 73% would recommend the school, 69% say their child is happy there and 72% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (73%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (54%).
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at The Stable School has an education, health and care plan (52 of 52 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Christchurch Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 28 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (223).
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Stable School creates a caring environment where pupils feel heard and supported. The school offers an impressive range of practical subjects and outdoor activities that build confidence and resilience, alongside core academics taught by specialists. Parents are very positive about the individualised support their children receive for their special educational needs.
Key Strengths
- Pupils feel safe, listened to and well cared for with strong relationships with staff
- Broad curriculum with practical subjects like carpentry alongside core academics, plus specialist teachers
- Wide range of engaging extra-curricular activities including outdoor pursuits, swimming and Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Effective support for individual pupil needs and successful transitions back into education
- Strong focus on reading with a well-resourced library and positive attitudes towards learning
Areas for Improvement
- Some work given to pupils does not match their individual needs or intended learning, causing them to find it too easy or too difficult
- Support for pupils with significant reading gaps, particularly in key stage 4, is still in early stages
- Staff need stronger pedagogical knowledge to deliver the curriculum more consistently and effectively
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff skilled at supporting pupils to make positive choices and dealing quickly with bullying incidents.
Extracurricular Activities
Paddleboarding, horse riding, surfing, cycling, hill-climbing, swimming lessons, Duke of Edinburgh Award, philosophy and ethics, carpentry, digital technology, media studies, trips to local businesses, career events, charity fundraising
The Stable School is an independent special school for pupils aged 6-16 with various special educational needs and disabilities. The school has improved significantly since its previous inspection and now provides good quality education with a broad, ambitious curriculum.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
26 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Stable School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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
80%
Available places
52 pupils
65 places
13 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Christchurch
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Christchurch
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.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
52
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Stable School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
52
Total Pupils
39
Boys
13
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about The Stable School
What are GCSE results like at The Stable School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for The Stable School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
How many pupils go to The Stable School?
The Stable School has around 52 pupils on roll.
Does The Stable School have specialist SEN provision?
The Stable School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to The Stable School?
The Stable School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near The Stable School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is 24 (the median across 117 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Stable School?
The Stable School is at 12 Dudmoor Farm Road, Christchurch, Christchurch, BH23 6AQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)