Poole Grammar School is a mainstream secondary school in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, for boys aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 150 of its 1,224 pupils (12.3%) were getting SEN support and 12 (1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,224 pupils
- Boys only
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
12.3% get SEN support
150 of 1,224 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1% have an EHC plan
12 of 1,224 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia37
- Social, emotional and mental health36
- Autism33
- Visual impairment8
- Speech, language and communication5
- Hearing 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
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys only
- Pupils
- 1,224 (places for 1,375)
- Admissions
- Selective (a grammar school)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Katie Etheridge
- Part of
- Poole Grammar School
- Free school meals
- 6% of pupils eligible
- School reference (URN)
- 136850
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
Graded by area, May 2025; school remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (March 2024)
Inspected in May 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, March 2024).
Contact and getting there
Gravel Hill, Poole, BH17 9JU
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
- Montacute School Special school · Ages 2–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- Broadstone Middle School Mainstream + base · Ages 9–13 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Broadstone First School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–9 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Longspee Academy Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Hillbourne Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 16.2%, EHC plans 7.8% 0.6 miles
- Parkstone Grammar School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 12.6%, EHC plans 0.7% 0.7 miles
- Magna Academy Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 16.6%, EHC plans 5% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole SEND schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Questions about Poole Grammar School
How many pupils at Poole Grammar School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 150 of the 1,224 pupils (12.3%) were getting SEN support and 12 (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 Poole Grammar School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (37 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (36 pupils) and autism (33 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Poole Grammar 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 Poole Grammar 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 Poole Grammar School?
You can ask for Poole Grammar 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 Poole Grammar 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 Broadstone Middle School, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is Poole Grammar School?
Gravel Hill, Poole, BH17 9JU, 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.