Best secondary schools in Poole (2026)
Poole has 8 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is Poole Grammar School, in the top 4% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 50.2, against 46.1 for England. 2 are in England's top 10%, and 0 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 2 grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 4% in England |
Poole Grammar School Poole · Grammar · Boys |
70.5 | 70.2 | 96% | Not judged | |
2 Top 4% in England |
Parkstone Grammar School Poole · Grammar · Girls |
68.6 | 68.5 | 90% | Not judged | |
3 Top 26% in England |
Poole High School Poole |
51.0 | 51.0 | 56% | No rating | |
4 Top 48% in England |
St Edward's Roman Catholic/Church of England School, Poole Poole · Church of England/Roman Catholic |
45.9 | 46.4 | 51% | No rating | |
5 Bottom 49% in England |
Corfe Hills School Poole |
45.6 | 46.7 | 46% | Good | |
6 Bottom 36% in England |
Magna Academy Poole |
43.3 | 44.3 | 41% | Good | |
7 Bottom 28% in England |
The Cornerstone Academy Poole |
41.3 | 41.0 | 37% | No rating | |
8 Bottom 4% in England |
St Aldhelm's Academy Poole |
34.5 | 33.6 | 22% | Report card |
Other towns in Dorset
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Questions
What is the best secondary school in Poole?
On exam results over the last three years, Poole Grammar School is the top-ranked secondary school in Poole, in the top 4% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.