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catchment.school

St Aldhelm's Academy Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

St Aldhelm's Academy is an academy sponsor led secondary school in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 841 pupils, and a capacity of 900 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-16

Age range

841

Pupils

900

Capacity

93%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2016

St Aldhelm's Academy Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for St Aldhelm's Academy?

The catchment area for St Aldhelm's Academy is the geographic zone Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary 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.

As an academy, St Aldhelm's Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Operating near capacity: 93% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if St Aldhelm's Academy 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 →

St Aldhelm's Academy: 900 places, 93% filled: nearing capacity

St Aldhelm's Academy has a published admission number of 900 places. 841 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 93%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 900, 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. 44.1% of pupils at St Aldhelm's Academy are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of 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 →

St Aldhelm's Academy: School Information

Full address
Herbert Avenue, Poole, BH12 4HS
Local authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
School type
Academy sponsor led
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
44.1% of pupils
DfE URN
136206

Other Secondary Schools in Poole

If St Aldhelm's Academy is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Poole are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to St Aldhelm's Academy 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: St Aldhelm's Academy

What is the catchment area for St Aldhelm's Academy?

The catchment area for St Aldhelm's Academy is the geographic zone Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary 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 St Aldhelm's Academy oversubscribed?

St Aldhelm's Academy is operating close to its capacity of 900 places (93% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for St Aldhelm's Academy?

Admission to St Aldhelm's Academy 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 St Aldhelm's Academy cover?

St Aldhelm's Academy is a secondary school in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for St Aldhelm's Academy?

St Aldhelm's Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2016. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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