Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole / Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 11+
East Way, Bournemouth, BH8 9PY
Bournemouth School
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A selective boys grammar school in Bournemouth, Dorset, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,284 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective boys grammar school in Bournemouth, Dorset, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,284 pupils on roll. Families looking at Bournemouth, Dorset will usually see Bournemouth School as a selective option for boys aged 11-18, with sixth form continuing the academic journey on the same site. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,284 pupils on roll and 150 Year 7 places.
For parents thinking about the 11+, the admissions picture is one of the clearest differentiators here. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 150 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks moderate by grammar-school standards. Catchment or distance rules still matter at allocation stage, so this is the kind of school where families need to read the admissions policy carefully rather than rely on headline scores alone.
On current official measures, the school offers a clear academic profile for parents to weigh up. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Outstanding. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.71 and Attainment 8 at 73.3. 95.6% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 28.3% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 62% moving into higher education.
Published school information highlights facilities such as Library, Design technology. The wider offer currently includes Orchestra, Drama, Duke of Edinburgh. For many parents, the presence of a sixth form is part of the attraction, because it gives able pupils the option to stay in a familiar academic setting through to A level. Bournemouth School is likely to appeal most to families who want strong academic expectations but also need the practical details, culture, and selective route to line up sensibly.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and England.
The shared Bournemouth and Poole grammar-school consortium test is used with Bournemouth School for Girls, Parkstone Grammar School, and Poole Grammar School. Parents register with one consortium school and the test result is then used to determine eligibility across the consortium.
A postcode-based priority area applies rather than a published map. The current materials list BH1 to BH8, BH9 to BH11, BH12 5, and BH23 1 to BH23 3 as the priority-area postcodes.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Eligible looked after and previously looked after children are considered first.
Pupil Premium applicants
Eligible applicants under the school's Pupil Premium criterion are ranked next.
Priority-area applicants
Remaining eligible applicants living in Bournemouth School's priority area are ranked by total score.
Children of staff
The school's policy includes a staff-priority category after the in-area score-based category.
Other eligible applicants
Remaining eligible out-of-area applicants are ranked by total score.
Bournemouth School's consortium tests are taken once at the school where the parent registered. The same result is then used to determine eligibility across the Bournemouth and Poole grammar-school consortium.
This school uses the shared Dorset consortium route. The consortium page brings together the common test format, key dates and official papers used across that route.
Open Dorset guidePaper 1
Maths, English, VR
Consortium selection tests
Three GL multiple-choice papers in Mathematics, English, and Verbal Reasoning are used on the shared consortium test date.
English, Maths and Verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Non-verbal reasoning, Science and Creative writing are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Three GL multiple-choice papers in Mathematics, English, and Verbal Reasoning are used on the shared consortium test date.
Non-verbal reasoning
Science
Creative writing
Registration opens
13 April 2026
Open evening
9 July 2026
Registration closes
4 September 2026
Access arrangements deadline
7 September 2026
Test information sent to parents
18 September 2026
Entrance tests
26 September 2026
Results emailed
16 October 2026
Local-authority application deadline
31 October 2026
Late testing registration closes
29 January 2027
Late testing
23 February 2027
Offer day
1 March 2027
Register for the consortium test
Complete the online Year 7 2027 test registration form between 13 April 2026 and 12 noon on 4 September 2026.
Register for testingSubmit any access-arrangements request
If your child needs access arrangements, submit the form by 12 noon on 7 September 2026.
Open access arrangementsSit the entrance tests and await the result
One consortium test date applies for the four grammar schools. The entrance tests are on 26 September 2026 and results are emailed on 16 October 2026.
Open Year 7 admissions pageApply through your home local authority
After the result is released, submit your school preferences through your home local authority by 31 October 2026.
Open BCP admissionsLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 72.3 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 70.8 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 73.3 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 74.2 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | B+ average (42.2 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (37.1 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B average (39.7 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B average (40.2 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 100% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 97% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 28 February 2024
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
Same Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area and similar boys' selective route
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Best Grammar Schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Compare the best grammar schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole sits within the Dorset route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
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Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Best Grammar Schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Compare the best grammar schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole sits within the Dorset route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Boys' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best boys grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing realistic shortlist options.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Bournemouth School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Register for the consortium test: Complete the online Year 7 2027 test registration form between 13 April 2026 and 12 noon on 4 September 2026. 2. Submit any access-arrangements request: If your child needs access arrangements, submit the form by 12 noon on 7 September 2026. 3. Sit the entrance tests and await the result: One consortium test date applies for the four grammar schools. The entrance tests are on 26 September 2026 and results are emailed on 16 October 2026. 4. Apply through your home local authority: After the result is released, submit your school preferences through your home local authority by 31 October 2026.
Registration opens: 13 April 2026. Open evening: 9 July 2026. Registration closes: 4 September 2026. Access arrangements deadline: 7 September 2026. Test information sent to parents: 18 September 2026. Entrance tests: 26 September 2026. Results emailed: 16 October 2026. Local-authority application deadline: 31 October 2026. Late testing registration closes: 29 January 2027. Late testing: 23 February 2027. Offer day: 1 March 2027
Bournemouth School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 28 February 2024.