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St Aldhelm's Academy

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH12 4HSSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2026
Progress 8
-0.58
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
120 1st-choice / 177 places
Ranking
#2,714
of 3,141 nationally

About St Aldhelm's Academy

St Aldhelm's Academy in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is a state secondary for 11 to 16 year olds, and its headline Progress 8 score of -0.58 places it well below the local authority average of 0.17. That gap is significant: the LA average is positive, meaning most schools in the area help pupils make more progress than the national baseline, while St Aldhelm's pupils leave with lower attainment than similar students nationally. The school ranks 20th out of 21 schools in the LA on this metric, putting it in the bottom 5% locally and the bottom 14% nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 35.1 is also modest, and only 22.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics95 measure), compared with 45.7% at the grade 4 threshold. The school's EBacc entry rate is just 10.4%, and only 4.3% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. These figures paint a picture of a school where academic outcomes are a clear area for improvement.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressHerbert Avenue, Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH12 4HS
HeadteacherNadine Lapskas
Local AuthorityBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Number of Pupils841
Free School Meals (FSM)44.1%
School Capacity841 / 900 (93% full)

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

4 Nov 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (4 Nov 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 11 Apr 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
Playing FieldsDining HallTennis CourtsMusic RoomsSports HallLibrarySwimming PoolSixth Form CentreGymnasiumArt StudiosChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

NetballTennisBadmintonDanceAthleticsMartial ArtsCross CountrySwimmingRoundersGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

ChoirGardeningCodingModel United NationsDebateNewspaper

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Aldhelm's Academy

St Aldhelm's Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.