Best Primary Schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 66 schools across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has 66 open primary schools. Of the 66 with a published Ofsted inspection, 9 (14%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 94% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Canford Heath Infant School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

66
Total schools
9
Outstanding (historic grade)
14%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
63.6%
Avg KS2 SATs
40
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Canford Heath Infant School
Primary
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥈 Christchurch Infant School
Primary
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥉 Avonwood Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 90 View school
4. St. Walburga's Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 89 View school
5. St Katharine's Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 87 View school
6. Winton Primary School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
7. Moordown St John's Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
8. Mudeford Junior School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
9. Twynham Primary School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
10. Mudeford Community Infants' School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
11. Stourfield Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
12. Queen's Park Infant Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
13. Stanley Green Infant Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
14. Broadstone First School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
15. Ad Astra Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
16. Merley First School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
17. St Clement's and St John's Church of England Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
18. Lilliput Church of England Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
19. Old Town Infant School and Nursery
Primary
 Good 80 View school
20. Courthill Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Best primary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and PoolePrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
There are 66 open primary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (closed schools are excluded). 9 of the 66 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is Canford Heath Infant School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Primary and secondary applications in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.