The Bishop of Winchester Academy
94%
Capacity
1,178
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
About The Bishop of Winchester Academy
The Bishop of Winchester Academy is a Church of England secondary school in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, a local authority with 25 state secondary schools. It ranks 12th among them by Progress 8 score, placing it in the middle of the pack. For context, the top-performing schools in the same LA are Glenmoor Academy, The Bournemouth and Poole College, and Poole Grammar School. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Bournemouth School for Girls, just 0.4 km away. The Bishop of Winchester itself holds a Good rating from its most recent inspection in 2023, a grade it has maintained since at least 2013. With 1,178 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,250, it is a large secondary that also operates a sixth form. The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 527 applications for 200 places, with 148 first-preference offers made.
Academically, the school’s Progress 8 score of 0.12 is positive but slightly below the LA average of 0.17, and it falls in the national Average banding. Attainment 8 sits at 46.9, with 69.2% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 4.18, and 53.6% of pupils entered the EBacc, though only 32.2% achieved it at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the school’s value-added score is 0.19, with an average points per entry of 32.21 (equivalent to a C+ grade). Of the 29 pupils in the sixth form cohort, 21.4% achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. Ofsted rated all inspected areas — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision — as Good.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including science labs, art studios, a theatre, a sixth form centre, and a chapel. Sports on offer include rugby, football, netball, and tennis, while clubs range from coding and debate to choir and Model UN. The school has a dedicated SEN unit and supports pupils with specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health challenges. With a 20.9% pupil premium rate, it serves a diverse intake. Given its oversubscription, families should apply early. This is a solid, well-regarded Church of England secondary that suits families looking for a large, inclusive school with a strong sixth form and a clear set of extracurricular opportunities, all within a competitive local landscape.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Mallard Road, Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH8 9PW |
| Headteacher | Paul McKeown |
| Local Authority | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |
| Number of Pupils | 1,178 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 20.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,178 / 1,250 (94% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Feb 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 4 May 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.12)
1262nd of 3,141
Nationally
116th of 306
In South West
12th of 21
In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
39.5
'22/23
30.7
'23/24
32.2
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
2022/2336%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 208 pupils).
- FE college43%
- School sixth form (stay)36%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Not sustained7%
- Employment3%
92% 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
2022/2363%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 60 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
16%
Russell Group
29%
Top-third HE
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)63%
- Employment23%
- Not sustained8%
- Further education3%
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- Computer Studies / Computing16
- Mathematics14
- English Language11
- Biology10
- English Literature9
- Psychology9
- Sociology9
- Physics8
- Chemistry7
- Film Studies7
- History6
- Religious Studies5
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
SEN UnitSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed200
527
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
148 families put this school as their 1st choice (28% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British61.9%
- White (other)11.0%
- Mixed7.7%
- Asian3.6%
- 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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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 The Bishop of Winchester Academy
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
Mallard Road, Bournemouth
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH8 9PW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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