The Quay School

Academy · All-through, ages 5 to 18 · Mixed

Part of SOUTHERN EDUCATION TRUST

160 Herbert Avenue, Poole, BH12 4HU

01202 716910 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 29 April 2025
Pupils69Room for 133 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 78 in 2019, 70 in 2021, 80 in 2022, 81 in 2023, 71 in 2024, 64 in 2025, 69 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
Free school meals72%of pupils eligible now

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 29 April 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

20 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

StatementThis schoolEngland
My child is happy at this school 90% 89%
My child feels safe at this school 95% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 95% 84%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 17 parents who had raised a concern 94% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 16 parents of children with SEND 94% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent 95%said yes 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 31%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolBournemouth, Christchurch and PooleEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 67.7% 20.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan 21.9% 3.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support 75.0% 14.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language 0.0% 15.8%* 19.2%
Pupils per teacher 4.6 16.6 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2.5 12.2 11.8
Teachers who left during the year 13.5% 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 school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is The Quay School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 29 April 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

Would parents recommend The Quay School?

95% of the 20 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Quay School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.