Classpot

The Cornerstone Academy

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH15 4BQSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Oct 2022
Progress 8
-0.03
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
79 1st-choice / 103 places
Ranking
#1,595
of 3,141 nationally

About The Cornerstone Academy

The Cornerstone Academy is a mixed state secondary for 11 to 16 year olds in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, currently home to 682 pupils against a capacity of 900. That leaves a fair amount of physical slack, but the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 140 applications for 103 places, with 79 of those coming as first preferences. That oversubscription ratio of 1.36 suggests a school that local families are actively choosing. The pupil body is notably diverse in terms of disadvantage — 37.7% of students are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 23% for secondary schools. This is a school serving a community with significant economic need, and its intake reflects that reality. Headteacher Chris Phillips leads a school that has grown its reputation since a previous Requires Improvement rating, and the current Good grade from Ofsted in 2022 signals a stable, improving environment.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBlandford Close, Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH15 4BQ
HeadteacherChris Phillips
Local AuthorityBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Number of Pupils682
Free School Meals (FSM)37.7%
School Capacity682 / 900 (76% 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

19 Oct 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (19 Oct 2022): School remains Good

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

Facilities

9
Swimming PoolLibraryTheatreSixth Form CentreICT SuitePlaying FieldsSports HallScience LabsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

BadmintonFootballDanceNetballTennisGymnasticsRugby

Clubs & Activities

Young EnterpriseDramaChoirNewspaperFilm ClubGardeningCodingBook ClubDuke of EdinburghScience Club

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

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 The Cornerstone Academy

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