Bournemouth School for Girls
104%
Capacity
1,259
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About Bournemouth School for Girls
Bournemouth School for Girls posts a Progress 8 score of 0.54, which is significantly above the local authority average of 0.17 for secondary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. That difference of 0.37 means pupils here make nearly half a grade more progress per subject than their peers across the wider area. The school ranks 4th out of 21 state secondaries in the LA, placing it in the top 25% nationally. Its closest rival in the local Outstanding group is Bournemouth School, just half a kilometre away, which suggests a competitive academic corridor. The school is also oversubscribed by a ratio of 2.1 to 1, with 378 applications for 180 places in the 2025/26 intake, and 176 of those offers went to first-preference families. That level of demand reflects a reputation that parents clearly trust, and the data backs it up.
At Key Stage 4, the school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 71.7, and 99.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 6.38, with 48.3% of pupils entered for the full EBacc combination. Progress 8 is rated as ‘well above average’ nationally, with particularly strong progress in open subjects (0.78) and English (0.55). Maths progress is more modest at 0.23, but still positive. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.02, which is classed as average, and the average grade per entry is a B+. The best three A-levels average out to a B grade, and 25.9% of entries were graded AAB or higher. The sixth form has 139 pupils and is rated Outstanding in its own right. Compared with the LA average Progress 8 of 0.17, Bournemouth School for Girls is clearly pulling well ahead at GCSE, though sixth-form progress is more in line with the national norm.
The school has a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, playing fields, science labs, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include hockey, cricket, dance, and martial arts, while clubs range from Model UN and Young Enterprise to Eco Club and Debate. The SEND register covers a broad spectrum, including dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, so the school is equipped to support a variety of additional needs. With 6.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is less disadvantaged than many local schools, but the school’s strong outcomes suggest it stretches pupils across the board. It is a girls’ grammar-style state school with no religious character, and oversubscription is high. This is a school for academically able girls who want a structured, high-expectation environment with strong GCSE results and a solid sixth form, though families should note that A-level value added is average rather than exceptional.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Castle Gate Close, Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH8 9UJ |
| Headteacher | David Sims |
| Local Authority | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |
| Number of Pupils | 1,259 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 6.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,259 / 1,210 (104% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 17 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.54)
455th of 3,141
Nationally
28th of 306
In South West
4th of 21
In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
46.9
'22/23
41.6
'23/24
41.7
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2381%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 174 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)81%
- FE college14%
- Sixth form college2%
- Employment1%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2362%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 155 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
45%
Russell Group
47%
Top-third HE
5%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)62%
- Employment23%
- Not sustained10%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
- Apprenticeship1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology60
- Mathematics55
- Biology53
- Chemistry36
- Sociology29
- Economics28
- English Literature26
- Religious Studies24
- Geography13
- Physics13
- History12
- Art and Design (Fine Art)11
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed180
378
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
238 families put this school as their 1st choice (63% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British58.7%
- Asian18.4%
- Mixed11.1%
- White (other)6.8%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
8
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bournemouth School for Girls
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Castle Gate Close, Bournemouth
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH8 9UJ
Castle Gate Close, Bournemouth
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH8 9UJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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