Overall Oxbridge
#804
6 ranked schools · +110 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,974
Applications
44
Offers
9
Offer rate20.4%
-1.9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%
Schools in Poole
One of the world's largest natural harbours frames the southern edge of Poole, a seaport town on the Dorset coast with a continuous settlement stretching back to before the Iron Age. Today around 151,500 people live here.
The town's commercial fortunes grew through the wool trade from the 12th century and reached their peak in the 18th century when Poole ranked among Britain's busiest ports; the harbour was also one of the principal departure points for the Normandy landings in the Second World War. Parkstone, extending inland from the harbour's northern shores, is among the most sought-after neighbourhoods for school catchments. Canford Heath and Oakdale extend the residential spread northward, while Lytchett Minster sits just beyond the borough's western edge. Rail services from Poole station reach Southampton Central in around forty-five minutes on the South Western Main Line.
28
Primary
schools
8
Secondary
schools
1
Post-16
colleges
7
Special
schools
3
Other
schools
of which10sixth forms·2grammar·8faith47 total
Area Performance
Poole schools rank in the top 53% of England
Across 36 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.16/10, -0.31 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
7% Elite
Distribution across all Poole schools
EliteExcellentGoodDevelopingRebuilding
Poole vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 53%
Across all ranked Poole schools
Top 56%Primaryavg #8,277 of 14,825
Top 53%Secondaryavg #2,021 of 3,810
Top 45%Sixth formavg #1,147 of 2,525
Primary schools: 18 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.1/10
-0.26 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#8,277
-6 pts vs medianmedian 7,413
top 56% of 14,825
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
61%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
9%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.1/10
-0.26 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#8,277
-6 pts vs medianmedian 7,413
top 56% of 14,825
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
61%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
9%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Secondary schools: 8 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
6.9/10
-0.46 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,021
-3 pts vs medianmedian 1,905
top 53% of 3,810
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
56%
0 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
50.2
+11.1 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Average FMS Inspection Score
6.9/10
-0.46 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,021
-3 pts vs medianmedian 1,905
top 53% of 3,810
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
56%
0 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
50.2
+11.1 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Sixth form schools: 10 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.5/10
-0.28 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,147
+5 pts vs medianmedian 1,263
top 45% of 2,525
% A*-A at A-Level
26%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
51%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.5/10
-0.28 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,147
+5 pts vs medianmedian 1,263
top 45% of 2,525
% A*-A at A-Level
26%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
51%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Oxford
#287
4 ranked schools · -34 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,193
Applications
18
Offers
0
Offer rate0.0%
-15.1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 15.1%
Cambridge
#341
5 ranked schools · +432 places vs Eng avg #773 of 1,871
Applications
26
Offers
9
Offer rate34.6%
+5.2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Poole town
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Poole town
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Poole town
Local directory
School profiles in Poole
Browse 38 local profile links across primary schools in poole town, secondary schools in poole town and sixth forms in poole town. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
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