School Chooser

Bournemouth School

Secondary · ages 11-18BoysAcademy (grammar)1,320 pupilsSixth formBournemouthBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
School Chooser Score
99
Well above
similar schools
Likely range 97 to 100
Out of 100. Better than 68% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedOutstandingLast Ofsted inspection, February 2024
Strong pass in English and maths96%England 46%
Attendance95.2%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families7%Far fewer than most schools
PlacesFull1,320 pupils, 1,100 places
Pupils per teacher18.4School workforce census

Bournemouth School is a converter academy in Bournemouth for boys aged 11 to 18. It has 1,320 pupils, 220 more than it has places for. About 7 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 99 out of 100. That puts it well above schools like it, ahead of 68% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was outstanding, back in 2024.

East Way, Bournemouth, BH8 9PY01202 512609bournemouth-school.orgMrs Katie Ateaque headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 27 February 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Outstanding overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Outstanding
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Outstanding
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Outstanding
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Outstanding
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

174 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score74.2
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths96%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths99%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11+0.71In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 73.073.020182019: 71.971.920192022: 72.372.320222023: 70.870.820232024: 73.373.320242025: 74.274.22025
Since 2018: +1.2Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11174180152148145145
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 874.273.370.872.371.973.050.846.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8+0.71+0.56+0.37+0.46+0.59
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths96%96%94%96%97%97%56%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths99%100%99%99%98%98%75%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score7.176.996.656.736.867.034.564.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry91%83%80%71%88%84%43%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged76.066.459.059.467.772.7
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged74.174.071.873.372.173.0
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers74.173.274.072.373.2

Subjects

Results came out for 19 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Design & Technology100%grades 9 to 5, England 50% · 17th of 1,478 schools
Food Preparation & Nutrition100%grades 9 to 5, England 52%
Business98%grades 9 to 5, England 51% · 21st of 1,806 schools
Mathematics99%grades 9 to 5, England 53% · 65th of 3,211 schools
What is taught hereOffers triple science, 3 languages, computer science, music.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Physics173 entries · 4th of 15 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
97%England 82%
Mathematics173 entries · 2nd of 22 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
99%England 53%
English Language173 entries · 3rd of 22 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
95%England 54%
Chemistry173 entries · 7th of 15 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
97%England 81%
Biology173 entries · 4th of 15 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
98%England 82%
English Literature172 entries · 2nd of 22 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
95%England 58%
Religious Studies170 entries · 5th of 16 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
88%England 60%
Business97 entries · 1st of 15 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
98%England 51%
History92 entries · 2nd of 22 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
96%England 52%
Geography91 entries · 4th of 22 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
96%England 51%
Spanish88 entries · 2nd of 14 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
89%England 54%
Computer Science82 entries · 1st of 10 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
100%England 56%
French55 entries · 4th of 17 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
95%England 60%
Physical Education54 entries · 1st of 11 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
98%England 56%
Design & Technology33 entries · 1st of 13 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
100%England 50%
Art and Design33 entries · 3rd of 17 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
97%England 58%
German22 entries · 1st of 4 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
100%England 63%
100%England 52%
Music12 entries
100%England 61%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Physics17377%97%99%82%584 of 2,546
Mathematics17382%99%100%53%65 of 3,211
English Language17363%95%99%54%86 of 3,210
Chemistry17368%97%99%81%669 of 2,537
Biology17368%98%99%82%413 of 2,570
English Literature17250%95%98%58%87 of 3,202
Religious Studies17051%88%95%60%162 of 1,825
Business9770%98%100%51%21 of 1,806
History9271%96%98%52%72 of 3,126
Geography9157%96%100%51%95 of 3,116
Spanish8855%89%94%54%89 of 1,941
Computer Science8285%100%100%56%13 of 1,861
French5567%95%100%60%98 of 1,974
Physical Education5482%98%100%56%35 of 1,559
Design & Technology3385%100%100%50%17 of 1,478
Art and Design3370%97%100%58%76 of 2,818
German2273%100%100%63%19 of 571
Food Preparation & Nutrition1867%100%100%52%
Music1250%100%100%61%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

170 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeB40.2 points per entry
A level progress+0.01Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better28%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished98%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students170156143177285281
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry40.2439.6637.0542.2142.3639.72
Average A level gradeBBB-B+B+B
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS39.8439.2936.9441.9342.9341.43
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects28%35%23%36%42%37%
A level progressA level value added+0.01-0.03+0.21+0.04
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed98%96%94%97%95%96%

A level subjects

18 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

Strongest A levels

Government and Politics83%A* to B, England 55% · 12 entries
Psychology69%A* to B, England 46% · 36 entries
Business Studies66%A* to B, England 47% · 32 entries
Computer Science63%A* to B, England 46% · 30 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics104Biology64Chemistry51Economics47Physics43Psychology36Business Studies32Computer Science30Mathematics (Further)22History16Physical Education / Sports Studies15English Literature13Government and Politics12Geography9Religious Studies9French6Art and Design6Music5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics104 entries · 50% A* or A · 98% passed
71%England 60%
Biology64 entries · 38% A* or A · 98% passed
61%England 49%
Chemistry51 entries · 39% A* or A · 94% passed
57%England 53%
Economics47 entries · 34% A* or A · 100% passed
60%England 57%
Physics43 entries · 42% A* or A · 100% passed
63%England 51%
Psychology36 entries · 17% A* or A · 100% passed
69%England 46%
Business Studies32 entries · 31% A* or A · 100% passed
66%England 47%
Computer Science30 entries · 37% A* or A · 100% passed
63%England 46%
Mathematics (Further)22 entries · 55% A* or A · 100% passed
91%England 76%
History16 entries · 19% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 55%
Physical Education / Sports Studies15 entries · 27% A* or A · 100% passed
53%England 41%
English Literature13 entries · 46% A* or A · 100% passed
69%England 52%
Government and Politics12 entries · 50% A* or A · 100% passed
83%England 55%
Geography9 entries · 22% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 51%
Religious Studies9 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
44%England 50%
French6 entries · 17% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 60%
Art and Design6 entries · 50% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 60%
Music5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 47%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. Every gap at this school is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
76.074.1
Gap 1.9England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
100%96%
Gap 4 ptsEngland 22 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Grammar school. This is a grammar school, so places depend on an entrance test.

Full1,274 pupils for 1,230 places, 2024/25
104% full

The school is full, with 44 more pupils than it has places for. More families apply than can get in, so things like how close you live and whether an older brother or sister is already here decide who gets a place. Pupil numbers have grown by 10% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,320Census January 2026
Places1,100120% full
Pupils from low-income families7%7% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English13%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support4%58 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan1%10 pupils with a plan
Average class size23.453 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils9%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)7%£71,500 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls1,270 / 50
White British pupils57%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (26), emotional and mental health (15), Specific learning difficulty (14), Hearing impairment (5), Vision impairment (4), Physical disability (2).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,3201,2841,2301,1631,1651,142
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals7%6%6%6%6%5%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language13%13%9%9%9%8%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support4%4%3%3%4%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans1%1%1%1%0%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.2% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance95.2%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school10.5%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils5.62024/25, 2 permanent exclusions
Missed without permission0.6%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.8%5.6%5.7%6.7%3.4%4.1%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.3%5.1%5.0%6.0%3.0%3.5%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence0.6%0.5%0.7%0.7%0.4%0.6%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence10.5%15.6%14.5%18.1%6.0%7.2%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate5.64.54.32.12.8
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions20000

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 152 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training99%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 100%, compared with 99% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training99%100%98%99%
Education98%97%98%99%
Apprenticeship1%2%0%1%
Work0%1%0%0%
Not in education, work or training1%0%1%0%

After sixth form

Where the 138 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training90%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 80%, compared with 91% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training82%England 72%
Top-third universities46%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship7%England 6%
Higher technical course1%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 100% went on to degree-level study or training and 63% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training90%89%92%
Education63%61%68%
Apprenticeship7%7%3%2%
Work20%21%21%
Not in education, work or training7%9%4%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers71.9full-time equivalent, 77 people
Pupils per teacher18.4Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers99%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants5.8full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£54,655
Teachers who left in the year10%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher10.02024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£6,415England £7,965. Total £8.2m
Income per pupil£6,400England £8,423. Total £8.2m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,995England £4,444
Money in reserve23%A lot put by: £1.9m, £1,495 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out-£20kit spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£6,415spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m20312 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate60 per 1,000 people34% lower than the England average
Typical house price£335,000Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Nearest bus stop70 mSummerbee Schools, 16 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Bournemouth School for GirlsAcademy (grammar)460 m1,290Outstanding 202496Compare
The Bishop of Winchester AcademyAcademy660 m1,162Good 202361Compare
Glenmoor AcademyAcademy1.4 miles902Not inspected97Compare
Winton AcademyAcademy1.4 miles902Outstanding 202495Compare
Avonbourne Girls AcademyAcademy1.5 miles1,160No overall grade 202484Compare
Avonbourne Boys' AcademyAcademy1.5 miles846Outstanding 202385Compare
Livingstone Academy BournemouthFree school1.8 miles1,006Good 202466Compare
The Bourne AcademyAcademy1.9 miles958Good 201944Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Bournemouth School with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats68%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 99 is about the same as the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 84 · middle 96 · highest 100100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 99 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 99% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 97 to 100. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%well above
+0.56
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 174 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well above
+0.34
Ofsted grade, 2.5 years old
Progress pupils make20%well above
+0.30
DfE progress measure; 174 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%well above
+0.11
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well above
+0.14
2024/25; 921 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.01
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 174 pupils
What pupils do next5%well above
+0.08
152 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Bournemouth School a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. Bournemouth School scores 99 out of 100. That is well above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 68% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 97 to 100, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Bournemouth School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Bournemouth School outstanding at its last full inspection on 27 February 2024.

How good are Bournemouth School's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 96% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 74.2, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Bournemouth School have?

1,320 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,100 places, so it is 120% full. It is a boys' school.

Is Bournemouth School oversubscribed?

Probably. The school was full in 2024/25, with 44 more pupils than places. How close you live, and the school's other admissions rules, decide who gets in.

Does Bournemouth School have an entrance exam?

Yes. It is a grammar school, so places depend on an entrance test, usually sat in September of Year 6. Check the school's admissions page for the test dates and the pass mark.

What is attendance like at Bournemouth School?

Pupils were in school 95.2% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 11% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Bournemouth School?

The average class had 23.4 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 9% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Bournemouth School have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was B. 18 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
East Way, Bournemouth, BH8 9PY
Telephone
01202 512609
Website
www.bournemouth-school.org
Headteacher
Mrs Katie Ateaque
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Boys
Religious character
None
Single-academy trust
Bournemouth School (1 schools)
Local authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ward
Muscliff & Strouden Park
Constituency
Bournemouth East
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2011 (academy converter)
URN
137452 · LAESTAB 8395400 · UKPRN 10035132
Formerly
Bournemouth School

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from