St Aldhelm's Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 164 of its 808 pupils (20.3%) were getting SEN support and 42 (5.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 808 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
20.3% get SEN support
164 of 808 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
5.2% have an EHC plan
42 of 808 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health81
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia40
- Speech, language and communication25
- Moderate learning difficulty25
- Autism18
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
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 808 (places for 900)
- Headteacher
- Mr Stuart Ingram (Principal)
- Part of
- Authentic Education Group Limited
- Free school meals
- 45.4% of pupils eligible
- School reference (URN)
- 136206
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
Requires significant improvement. Report card, March 2026: Needs attention in 5 of 6 areas
Ofsted has placed this school in requires significant improvement.
Inspected in March 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionNeeds attention
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
- AchievementUrgent improvement
- Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
- Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
- Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2021).
Contact and getting there
Herbert Avenue, Poole, BH12 4HS
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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
- Manorside Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 0.3 miles
- Winchelsea School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.4 miles
- The Lion Works School Independent · Ages 11–18 0.7 miles
- Canford Heath Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–7 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Poole Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14.1%, EHC plans 6.2% 0.5 miles
- Livingstone Road Infant School Primary · Ages 2–7 · SEN support 11.6%, EHC plans 4% 0.7 miles
- Livingstone Road Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 14.7%, EHC plans 3.9% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole SEND schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Questions about St Aldhelm's Academy
How many pupils at St Aldhelm's Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 164 of the 808 pupils (20.3%) were getting SEN support and 42 (5.2%) 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 Aldhelm's Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (81 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (40 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (25 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Aldhelm's Academy?
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 Aldhelm's Academy?
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 Aldhelm's Academy?
You can ask for St Aldhelm's Academy 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 Aldhelm's Academy 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 Manorside Academy, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is St Aldhelm's Academy?
Herbert Avenue, Poole, BH12 4HS, 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.