Dorset schools

[user1471238641]

Hi all,

New to the uk as have been working abroad for many years. We are considering a move to Dorset.

Please can you explain how the Grammar school system works and your experiences of it.

We are considering Poole and Bournemouth, any advice about these places would be great.

Also, if anyone knows of any very good primaries, would love to hear about them.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi, I grew up in Poole and now teach and live there - what specifically do you want to know? You can always PM if you want.

Thanks, I have a few questions:

Do all children in Bournemouth and Poole sit the 11 plus?
I understand there are 4 grammars, 2 in Poole and 2 in Bournemouth, is this correct?
Are there good secondary schools available if children don't get into grammars?
Do the results between grammars and secondaries vary significantly?

Thanks s muc for your help.

There are 4 grammars in the area, 2 in Bournemouth and 2 in Poole - one for each sex although they work closely together especially at 6th form level.

The grammar test is optional and is taken at the weekend at the start of year 6, ready for entry in year 7. You take the test and then apply for the schools as usual, putting the grammar as your first choice usually. Bournemouth school.

Obviously the other schools exam results are lower as they as more like secondary moderns then comprehensives. I can only really talk about Poole schools as that is what I know about. The girls grammar is excellent, the boys has been recently criticised for lazy teaching by OFSTED (currently requires improvement).

Of the other schools, St Edwards is the church school, has religious entry requirements and is popular for students with SEN. Often parents apply for students who they think won't get into the grammar or need a little more pastoral care. Magna Academy is Oustanding and has rapidly improved, Poole High (2000 +) is very big and is currently improving, as is St Aldhelms. A lot of parents avoid St Aldhelms as it has had a lot of problems but I have heard good things about it recently.

School places are allocated on distance from the school, apart from St. Edwards and the Grammars. I think Magna might have some sort of literacy banding test but I am not sure.

Hope that helps!

There was a thread running recently mentioning Magna and it's very strict discipline (silence in the corridors, pupils must carry diary and pencil case in left hand between lessons etc). May or may not be to your taste.

Did you move? Where did you choose?

We looking for next year.