Bournemouth - Areas to relocate to !

[Teddy77]

Calling all mummies living in Bournemouth - could you advise me on what secondary schools you would recommend that I look at? We have three daughters, 9, 9 and 12 years old. My oldest currently goes to an outstanding Catholic Secondary School but is open to non-religious schools too. We are keen to move to Bournemouth/Poole Area (from London) to be near the sea, currently looking at houses in Meyrick Park and surrounding suburbs.

My husband and I work from home, so as long as we have good broadband we can work from anywhere but may need to commute into London a few times a month.

Thank-you
Angela

Talbot woods is lovely . Sandbanks is very very lovely . Penn hill and canford cliffs is not bad . Don't think I'd bother with anywhere else.
Hope that helps a bit?
Oh schools ? Mine went to bukholme towers. But I think that's just closed?

Watching this as we're in the same situation and want to relocate nearby. Poole is too expensive for us, so I was thinking Southampton, but keen to hear anything the south coast not stretching too far west

That should say: 'about' the south coast

Hi. The main consideration to start with is where there are spaces available. I would start with calling BCP admissions. Unfortunately where there are spaces would probably not be your first choice schools.

There is a range of schooling models close to the area that may influence your choice. At secondary Bournemouth and Poole have single sex grammar schools and secondary moderns from year 7. To the East in Christchurch/Ringwood/Highcliffe there are comprehensives from year 7. To the north from Ferndown there are high schools (mixed ability/gender) from year 9. Then I am not sure what it the approach is more westerly of Poole.

Personally my preference is comprehensive schools. Ringwood, Highcliffe and Twynham (Christchurch) schools all have excellent reputations. My child has just started at Twynham and we have been very pleased. It also includes a scholar's class for the most able. Year 7 though is full and given c.500 applications where rejected this year I suspect there will also be a waiting list.

It would help to suggested areas to know what is important to you for your house/area and a rough budget.

Sorry just reread your post that you would favour Catholic schools. St Peters secondary is the only Catholic school I know of locally. It is in Southbourne and has a good reputation. It has an amazing theatre and is only a few mins walk from the beach. Entrance is based on church attendance etc rather than catchments. The areas around it Southbourne, Tuckton, Hengistbury Head and Wick are all really nice and would mean your child could walk to school.

St Peters primary is the only Catholic primary I know of. It is based in Littledown and is from reception to year 6. I think most children go from the primary to the secondary together. I have not heard much about this school though.

Rebecca said what I was going to say

But there are quite a few Catholic primary schools, not just st. Peters.

St. Peters secondary has a very good reputation if you want a Catholic secondary. The other secondaries in the area are single sex. Twynham is very good but as a pp said it's hard to get into. It's part of a big academy.

The area itself in and around Southbourne is wonderful.

St Edwards in Poole ...Oakdale

Thank you for all the useful information,

What is your opinion on Glenmoor Secondary school? Does it have a good reputation? We are looking at a house in Meyrick Park and this is the nearest girls secondary school

Thanks
Angela

The problem is that parents who want/ are comfortable with single sex will almost certainly apply for the grammars, which means that the single sex comprehensives in the same catchments may be missing the top 20% in terms of ability- that may not matter to you but just flagging it.

I'm not sure if private is at all an option but if so, Talbot Health School (girls through school) in Talbot Woods is definitely worth considering.

Glenmoor school has been having very good academic success in recent years, and hard to get into, you will probably encounter a waiting list for your older DD, but like any school has its issues. There’s a lot of competition for the local Grammars but Glenmoor has a Grammar stream /Topset for more able, they are linked with Winton boys so get to mix but single sex lessons for most I believe.