Classpot

Highcliffe School

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH23 4QDSecondaryAges 11–19MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2023
Progress 8
-0.05
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
249 1st-choice / 252 places
Ranking
#1,635
of 3,141 nationally

About Highcliffe School

Highcliffe School is a large secondary in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole that is clearly in demand. With 1,565 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,461, the school is operating above its official limit, and the admissions data for the 2025/26 intake confirms that pressure: 463 applications were received for 252 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1. 84. Of those, 249 families put it as their first preference, and 248 first-preference offers were made, meaning almost every family who wanted it most got a place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 14. 6%, which is slightly above the national average for secondary schools and suggests a genuinely mixed intake. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, with a sixth form attached, and is led by headteacher Patrick Earnshaw. It was last inspected by Ofsted in June 2023, when it was judged to remain Good overall, a rating it has held consistently across its previous graded inspection in 2017 and the one before that in 2013.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressParkside, Christchurch, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH23 4QD
HeadteacherPatrick Earnshaw
Local AuthorityBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Number of Pupils1,565
Free School Meals (FSM)14.6%
School Capacity1,565 / 1,461 (107% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

28 Jun 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (28 Jun 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 27 Nov 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Highcliffe School

Highcliffe School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.