The Grange School
About The Grange School
The Grange School in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is a mixed state secondary with a sixth form, currently educating 470 pupils against a capacity of 769. This leaves significant room for growth, but the school is already heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 159 applications for just 75 places, with 70 of those going to first-preference families. That works out at 2. 12 applications per place, a clear signal of local demand. The school’s intake is notably diverse in terms of disadvantage: 43. 3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average and a figure that suggests The Grange serves a community with higher-than-average levels of economic need. Under headteacher Matthew Woodville, the school has turned a corner since its previous Ofsted inspection in 2018, when it was rated Inadequate. Its most recent graded inspection, in November 2021, awarded a Good rating across the board, including for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Key Details
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 EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
30 Nov 2021Source: Ofsted, 19 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Grange School
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications