Twynham School
103%
Capacity
1,703
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Twynham School
Twynham School is a popular choice among local families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 610 applications for 261 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.34. That means for every place available, more than two families applied, and 243 of those were first-preference offers. While the school doesn't publish a parent recommendation percentage, the sheer demand suggests strong local confidence. The school is a large, mixed secondary with a sixth form, part of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole authority, and currently rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2024. That inspection saw the school step down from its previous Outstanding rating, but it still holds Good across all key areas including quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership.
Academically, Twynham sits just above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.16 is very close to the local authority average of 0.17, placing it 10th out of 21 schools in the area and in the top 38% nationally. At GCSE, 79.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the average Attainment 8 score was 49.8. The school has a strong EBacc entry rate of 62.1%, with 42.2% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the school's value-added score is -0.25, which is rated as below average, and the average points per entry was 34.01, equivalent to a C+. The best three A-levels averaged a C+ grade, and 14.4% of entries were at AAB or higher.
The school is well-equipped with a range of facilities including science labs, a sports hall, astro turf, music rooms, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. It offers a broad set of clubs and sports, from coding and debate to rugby and martial arts, plus the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With 18.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It is oversubscribed, so families applying should be prepared for competition. Twynham suits those who want a large, well-regarded secondary with a strong academic core and a wide range of extracurriculars, particularly if they value a school that performs solidly at GCSE and offers a full sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Sopers Lane, Christchurch, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH23 1JF |
| Headteacher | Matthew Woodville |
| Local Authority | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |
| Number of Pupils | 1,703 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,703 / 1,650 (103% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 9 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.16)
1179th of 3,141
Nationally
104th of 306
In South West
10th of 21
In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
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
39.2
'22/23
33.3
'23/24
34.0
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
2022/2349%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 260 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)49%
- FE college39%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained3%
97% 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
2022/2353%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 214 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
25%
Russell Group
30%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)53%
- Employment25%
- Not sustained10%
- Further education6%
- Apprenticeship4%
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- Mathematics67
- Business Studies:Single66
- Psychology65
- Sociology51
- Biology50
- Geography38
- History38
- Government and Politics34
- Media/Film/Tv Studies31
- Chemistry26
- Economics23
- English Literature23
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
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed261
610
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
243 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British85.5%
- Mixed5.6%
- White (other)4.6%
- Asian1.9%
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.
6
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Twynham 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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Sopers Lane, Christchurch
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH23 1JF
Sopers Lane, Christchurch
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH23 1JF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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