Portfield School Catchment Area
Portfield School is a non-maintained special not applicable school in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole , serving pupils aged 4-19, with 137 pupils, and a capacity of 150 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
4-19
Age range
137
Pupils
150
Capacity
91%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2015
Portfield School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Portfield School?
The catchment area for Portfield School is the geographic zone Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
The catchment area for Portfield School is set by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.
Get an alert if Portfield School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole catchment area documents →Portfield School: 150 places, 91% filled: nearing capacity
Portfield School has a published admission number of 150 places. 137 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 91%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 150, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 33.3% of pupils at Portfield School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole school admissions →
Portfield School: School Information
- Full address
- Parley Lane, Christchurch, BH23 6BP
- Local authority
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- School type
- Non-maintained special school
- Phase of education
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 4-19 years
- Free school meals
- 33.3% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 113942
Other Not applicable Schools in Christchurch
If Portfield School is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Christchurch are the next closest alternatives.
The Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy Catchment Area
Special post 16 institution · BH23 8EE
Christchurch Learning Centre Catchment Area
Pupil referral unit · BH23 1PJ
Connie Rothman School Catchment Area
Other independent special school · BH23 1DN
Futures Autism Unlimited Catchment Area
Special post 16 institution · BH23 1PH
Nearest not applicable schools by distance
These are the not applicable schools closest to Portfield School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Portfield School
What is the catchment area for Portfield School? ▾
The catchment area for Portfield School is the geographic zone Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Portfield School oversubscribed? ▾
Portfield School is operating close to its capacity of 150 places (91% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for Portfield School? ▾
Admission to Portfield School is managed by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Portfield School cover? ▾
Portfield School is a not applicable school in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, serving pupils aged 4-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Portfield School? ▾
Portfield School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2015. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.