St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole is a mainstream secondary school in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 185 of its 1,093 pupils (16.9%) were getting SEN support and 56 (5.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,093 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
16.9% get SEN support
185 of 1,093 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.1% have an EHC plan
56 of 1,093 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia79
- Autism44
- Social, emotional and mental health32
- Speech, language and communication28
- Moderate learning difficulty14
- Visual impairment5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Voluntary aided school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,093 (places for 1,146)
- Headteacher
- Mr Chris Barnett
- Faith
- Church of England/Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 14.1% of pupils eligible
- School reference (URN)
- 113893
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, April 2013; school remains Good (November 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in April 2013. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2022).
Contact and getting there
Dale Valley Road, Oakdale, Poole, BH15 3HY
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Longspee Academy Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Canford Heath Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–7 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.4 miles
- Canford Heath Junior School Mainstream + base · Ages 7–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Montacute School Special school · Ages 2–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Poole Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 12.4%, EHC plans 4.5% 0.7 miles
- Ocean Academy Poole Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 16.3%, EHC plans 3.7% 0.7 miles
- Haymoor Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 21.5%, EHC plans 6% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole SEND schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Questions about St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole
How many pupils at St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 185 of the 1,093 pupils (16.9%) were getting SEN support and 56 (5.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (79 pupils), autism (44 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (32 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole?
Through Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole?
You can ask for St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Canford Heath Infant School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole?
Dale Valley Road, Oakdale, Poole, BH15 3HY, in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.