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catchment.school

Winchelsea School Catchment Area

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

Winchelsea School is a community special not applicable school in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole , serving pupils aged 4-19, with 235 pupils, and a capacity of 250 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

4-19

Age range

235

Pupils

250

Capacity

94%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2022

Winchelsea School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Winchelsea School?

The catchment area for Winchelsea 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 Winchelsea 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.

Operating near capacity: 94% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Winchelsea 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 →

Winchelsea School: 250 places, 94% filled: nearing capacity

Winchelsea School has a published admission number of 250 places. 235 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 94%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 250, 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. 41.7% of pupils at Winchelsea School 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 →

Winchelsea School: School Information

Full address
Guernsey Road, Parkstone, Poole, BH12 4LL
Local authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
School type
Community special school
Phase of education
Not applicable
Age range
4-19 years
Free school meals
41.7% of pupils
DfE URN
113955

Other Not applicable Schools in Poole

If Winchelsea School is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Poole are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest not applicable schools by distance

These are the not applicable schools closest to Winchelsea 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: Winchelsea School

What is the catchment area for Winchelsea School?

The catchment area for Winchelsea 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 Winchelsea School oversubscribed?

Winchelsea School is operating close to its capacity of 250 places (94% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Winchelsea School?

Admission to Winchelsea 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 Winchelsea School cover?

Winchelsea School is a not applicable school in Poole, 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 Winchelsea School?

Winchelsea School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2022. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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