Schools by area › Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole › Highcliffe St Mark Primary School
Highcliffe St Mark Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Foundation school
Greenways, Highcliffe, Christchurch BH23 5AZ · highcliffeprimary.dorset.sch.uk · 01425 273029
On the mapSearch near BH23 5AZ
Overview
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement
- 2019 framework · inspected Jun 2024
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 58%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 63%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- 3.07 mi
- 4.94 km · Reception, September 2025 entry · Category E · Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 651
- 100% of 654 places
- Local authority
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 6.4%
- First language not English
- 2.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2025, the last place offered under “Category E” went to a home 3.07 mi (4.94 km) from the school. Source: Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 68 families put the school first and 58 places were offered; 84% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 58 | 68 | 1.2▲ | 84% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 90 | 98 | 1.1▲ | 89% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 71 | 68 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 76 | 74 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 90 | 103 | 1.1▲ | 85% |
Last distance offered
| Reception – Category E | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 3.07 mi4.94 km | |
The document prints no unit; miles, as BCP's Year 7 summary for the same year.
Results
In 2024/25, 58% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 7% the higher standard. Across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole it was 63%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼58% | 62% | ||
| ●7% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●106 | 106 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Highcliffe St Mark Primary School was judged Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, on 11 June 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Requires improvement
- Inspected
- 11 Jun 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Nov 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Nov 2010Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Good
What parents said
86% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (123 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 86%
- Replies
- 123
- 19% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 82% who raised concerns
based on the 41% who had a child bullied
based on 30 parents (24%) with SEND