Most sought-after schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ordered by how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out.
This list is sorted by one number: first preferences per place. For each school it is the number of families who named it first, divided by the number of offers it made, in the newest year we hold. A higher number means more families wanted a place than there were places.
This is not a list of the best schools. It does not measure how good a school is, how happy the children are, or how well they do. It also does not tell you whether a child would get a place: that depends on where you live, the year, and the council's rules. It only shows how many people applied.
| # | School | First preferences per place | Newest intake | Latest Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Avonwood Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
2.57 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 2 |
Twynham Primary School Christchurch, primary |
1.60 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 3 |
St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole Poole, secondary |
1.53 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 4 |
Livingstone Academy Bournemouth Bournemouth, all through |
1.51 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 5 |
St. Walburga's Catholic Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
1.46 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 6 |
Bournemouth School for Girls Bournemouth, secondary |
1.32 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 7 |
Merley First School Wimborne, primary |
1.29 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 8 |
Parkstone Grammar School Poole, secondary |
1.24 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 9 |
Bearwood Primary and Nursery School Bournemouth, primary |
1.21 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 10 |
Bournemouth School Bournemouth, secondary |
1.21 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 11 |
Lilliput Church of England Infant School Poole, primary |
1.20 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 12 |
Poole Grammar School Poole, secondary |
1.20 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 13 |
The Epiphany School Bournemouth, primary |
1.18 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 14 |
Mudeford Community Infants' School Christchurch, primary |
1.17 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 15 |
Winton Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
1.16 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 16 |
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch Christchurch, primary |
1.14 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 17 |
Glenmoor Academy Bournemouth, secondary |
1.12 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 18 |
Highcliffe St Mark Primary School Christchurch, primary |
1.09 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 19 |
Muscliff Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 20 |
Springdale First School Broadstone, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 21 |
The Bourne Academy Bournemouth, secondary |
1.06 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 22 |
St Mark's Church of England Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
1.05 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 23 |
St Peter's Catholic Comprehensive School Bournemouth, all through |
1.05 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 24 |
Winton Academy Bournemouth, secondary |
1.05 | 2025 | School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 25 |
Queen's Park Infant Academy Bournemouth, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 26 |
St Katharine's Church of England Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 27 |
The Priory Church of England Primary School Christchurch, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 28 |
Moordown St John's Church of England Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
1.02 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 29 |
Ad Astra Infant School Poole, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 30 |
Canford Heath Infant School Poole, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 31 |
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 32 |
Manorside Academy Poole, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 33 |
Old Town Infant School and Nursery Poole, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 34 |
Highcliffe School Christchurch, secondary |
0.99 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 35 |
Malmesbury Park Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 36 |
Stanley Green Infant Academy Poole, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 37 |
Heatherlands Primary School Poole, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 38 |
Longfleet Church of England Primary School Poole, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 39 |
Courthill Infant School Poole, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 40 |
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Poole Poole, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 41 |
Twin Sails Infant and Nursery School Poole, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 42 |
Bishop Aldhelm's Church of England Primary School Poole, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 43 |
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Poole Poole, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 44 |
Broadstone First School Broadstone, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 45 |
Kingsleigh Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 46 |
The Grange School Christchurch, secondary |
0.93 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 47 |
Twynham School Christchurch, secondary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 48 |
Livingstone Road Infant School Poole, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 49 |
Bayside Academy POOLE, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 50 |
Heathlands Primary Academy Bournemouth, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 51 |
Talbot Primary School Poole, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 52 |
Kinson Academy Bournemouth, primary |
0.88 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 53 |
Magna Academy Poole, secondary |
0.88 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 54 |
Hillbourne Primary School Poole, primary |
0.86 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 55 |
St Clement's and St John's Church of England Infant School Bournemouth, primary |
0.86 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 56 |
Stourfield Infant School Bournemouth, primary |
0.85 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 57 |
St Michael's Church of England Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
0.83 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 58 |
Hill View Primary Academy Bournemouth, primary |
0.81 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 59 |
St James' Church of England Primary Academy Bournemouth, primary |
0.80 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 60 |
Pokesdown Community Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
0.79 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 61 |
Somerford Primary School Christchurch, primary |
0.79 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 62 |
Burton Church of England Primary School Christchurch, primary |
0.77 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 63 |
The Cornerstone Academy Poole, secondary |
0.77 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 64 |
Christ The King Catholic Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
0.74 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 65 |
The Bishop of Winchester Academy Bournemouth, secondary |
0.74 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 66 |
Avonbourne Girls Academy Bournemouth, secondary |
0.73 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 67 |
Avonbourne Boys' Academy Bournemouth, secondary |
0.72 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 68 |
Elm Academy Bournemouth, primary |
0.71 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 69 |
Broadstone Middle School Broadstone, middle deemed secondary |
0.70 | 2024 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 70 |
St Aldhelm's Academy Poole, secondary |
0.68 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 71 |
Jewell Academy Bournemouth Bournemouth, primary |
0.67 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 72 |
St Luke's Church of England Primary School Bournemouth, primary |
0.63 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 73 |
Oak Academy Bournemouth, secondary |
0.59 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 74 |
King's Park Academy Bournemouth, primary |
0.50 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 74 schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · How we compare schools.