SchoolScoresThe Cornerstone Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of UNITED LEARNING TRUST
Blandford Close, Hamworthy, Poole, BH15 4BQ
01202 676789 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 18 January 2017.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 19 October 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
102 pupils in this year group.
37% — 19 points below the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole average, and 8 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 37% | 57% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 41 | 50.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.7 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
68 pupils in this year group.
81% — 12 points below the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole average, and 11 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 81% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 16% | 45% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 60% | 39% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 86% | 81% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 96 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 81 |
| Of those, offered a place | 81 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 161 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Admissions dates and schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole. Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 40.8% | 20.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole. Higher than 76% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.3% | 3.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole. Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.0% | 14.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole. Higher than 64% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 18.0% | 15.8%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole. Lower than 8% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 12.2% | 7.8%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole. Lower than 9% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 34.8% | 20.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 7th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole. Lower than 17% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 37.2 | 21.2 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 6th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole. Lower than 39% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.1% | 6.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded6 pupils | 0.88% | 0.34% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole. Higher than 14% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 14.8 | 16.6 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 8th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole. Higher than 4% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.8 | 12.2 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 8 state secondary schools in Poole. Higher than 85% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 21.9% | 15.9%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Poole High School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 56% grade 5+ English and maths
- Parkstone Grammar School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 90% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Edward's Roman Catholic/CofE School, Poole 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
- Magna Academy 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- Poole Grammar School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 96% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Cornerstone Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Cornerstone Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 18 January 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 19 October 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did The Cornerstone Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 37% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 8 points below the England average of 45%.
Is The Cornerstone Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 81 families put The Cornerstone Academy as their first choice for 96 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 81 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 139258.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.