Highcliffe School is a mainstream secondary school in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, for children and young people aged 11 to 19. In January 2026, 188 of its 1,519 pupils (12.4%) were getting SEN support and 51 (3.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–19
- 1,519 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.
12.4% get SEN support
188 of 1,519 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.4% have an EHC plan
51 of 1,519 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health80
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia56
- Autism36
- Speech, language and communication28
- Moderate learning difficulty15
- Hearing impairment6
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
- Ages
- 11 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,519 (places for 1,461)
- Headteacher
- Mr Patrick Earnshaw
- Part of
- Hisp Multi Academy Trust LTD
- Free school meals
- 15.8% of pupils eligible
- School reference (URN)
- 136763
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, October 2017; school remains Good (June 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, June 2023).
Contact and getting there
Parkside, Highcliffe, Christchurch, BH23 4QD
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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
- Somerford Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.5 miles
- Connie Rothman School Independent · Ages 11–21 2.5 miles
- New Milton Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–7 · Ofsted: Good 2.7 miles
- Futures Autism Unlimited Independent · Ages 18–25 2.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Highcliffe St Mark Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 6.6%, 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% 1.0 mile
- The Grange School Secondary · Ages 11–19 · SEN support 26.8%, EHC plans 8.9% 1.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole SEND schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Questions about Highcliffe School
How many pupils at Highcliffe School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 188 of the 1,519 pupils (12.4%) were getting SEN support and 51 (3.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Highcliffe School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (80 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (56 pupils) and autism (36 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Highcliffe 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 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 School?
You can ask for Highcliffe 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 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 Somerford Primary School, about 1.5 miles away.
Where is Highcliffe School?
Parkside, Highcliffe, Christchurch, BH23 4QD, 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.