Highcliffe St Mark Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 43 of its 651 pupils (6.6%) were getting SEN support and 22 (3.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 651 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
6.6% get SEN support
43 of 651 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.4% have an EHC plan
22 of 651 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication23
- Social, emotional and mental health16
- Autism10
- Moderate learning difficulty6
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 primary school
- Run as
- Foundation school
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 651 (places for 654)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Claire Barker
- Part of
- Christchurch Learning Partnership and Church of England
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 6.4% of pupils eligible
- School reference (URN)
- 134987
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 Requires improvement, June 2024
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in June 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Greenways, Highcliffe, Christchurch, BH23 5AZ
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- New Milton Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–7 · Ofsted: Good 1.9 miles
- Somerford Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.2 miles
- Connie Rothman School Independent · Ages 11–21 3.2 miles
- Futures Autism Unlimited Independent · Ages 18–25 3.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Highcliffe School Secondary · Ages 11–19 · SEN support 12.4%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.8 miles
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 20.6%, EHC plans 4.5% 1.8 miles
- The Arnewood School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 10.3%, EHC plans 5.8% 1.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole SEND schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Questions about Highcliffe St Mark Primary School
How many pupils at Highcliffe St Mark Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 43 of the 651 pupils (6.6%) were getting SEN support and 22 (3.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Highcliffe St Mark Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (23 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (16 pupils) and autism (10 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Highcliffe St Mark Primary School?
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 Highcliffe St Mark Primary School?
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 Highcliffe St Mark Primary School?
You can ask for Highcliffe St Mark Primary School 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 Highcliffe St Mark Primary School 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 New Milton Infant School, about 1.9 miles away.
Where is Highcliffe St Mark Primary School?
Greenways, Highcliffe, Christchurch, BH23 5AZ, 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.