Courthill Infant School

About Courthill Infant School

Courthill Infant School, a state primary in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, was rated Good overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a rating it has held consistently across both its recorded inspections. The school’s strongest area, according to the inspection, is personal development, which was judged Outstanding. This is a notable achievement given that only five out of 66 primary schools in the local authority currently hold an Outstanding overall rating. While the school does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results — it only caters for children up to age seven — the local authority average for KS2 attainment sits at 63, providing a useful benchmark for parents considering the next step after infant school. The inspection also rated the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and early years provision all as Good, painting a picture of a school that is performing solidly across the board.

Academically, Courthill Infant School focuses on the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, so the most informative metric is the Ofsted breakdown itself. The 2023 inspection noted that the quality of education is Good, with early years provision also rated Good. The school’s personal development rating of Outstanding suggests that pupils are well-supported in building character, resilience, and social skills. With 11.7 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a moderately diverse intake. The previous inspection in 2013 also rated the school Good overall, indicating sustained quality over a decade. For parents looking at infant schools specifically, this consistency is reassuring, especially in a local authority where the nearest Outstanding-rated infant school, Canford Heath Infant School, is three kilometres away.

The school is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 academic year, it offered 118 places and received 311 total applications, with 113 first-preference applications and 108 first-preference offers. That works out at 2.64 applications per place, so securing a spot is competitive. Facilities include a sensory room, library, playing fields, sports hall, and a chapel, and the school offers a range of sports such as dance, gymnastics, athletics, and swimming, plus clubs like coding, gardening, and drama. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social and emotional mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. This is a school that suits families who want a strong infant-phase foundation with a focus on personal development, a broad range of extracurricular activities, and a clear track record of Good Ofsted ratings, but who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.

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