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OpenOfsted: Standards maintainedURN 113942

Portfield School

Non-maintained special school · Christchurch · BH23 6BP

Ages 4–19 · 144 pupils · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

School website

Ofsted

Standards maintained

Overall absence

10.4%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Standards maintained

Inspection date

2024-12-19

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence10.4%
Persistent absence (10%+)26.6%
Unauthorised3.6%
Authorised absence
6.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
6.4%
Enrolments in measure
94

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill96%

144 pupils · 150 places

Pupils on roll
144
Boys / girls
113 / 31
School capacity
150
Capacity fill
144 / 150 (96%)
Free school meals
25%
FSM pupils
30
Gender
Mixed
School type
Non-maintained special school

Age range

Ages 4–19

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Local authority maintained
Headteacher
Mrs Anna Hewitt

Location

Address
Parley Lane
Postcode
BH23 6BP
Town
Christchurch
County
Dorset
Local authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
District
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Constituency
Christchurch
Urban/rural
Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Special classes
Has Special Classes

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed non-maintained special school, Ages 4–19, in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, 144 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, special school. Free school meals: 25%. SEN provision includes: ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty.

Open schools in Christchurch
20
Academies among open schools in Christchurch
30% (6)
Open schools in BH23
21
Open schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole LA
117

Nearby schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in ChristchurchNear BH23

  • The Epiphany School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bournemouth · BH9 3PE · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 4–11

    • KS270%
    • Absence4.5%
    • FSM4.3%

    1.2 miles away

  • Parley First School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Ferndown · BH22 8QE · Dorset

    Ages 4–9

    • Absence5.4%
    • FSM11.5%

    1.5 miles away

  • Muscliff Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bournemouth · BH8 0AB · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 5–11

    • KS269%
    • Absence4.9%
    • FSM20.3%

    1.5 miles away

  • Kinson Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bournemouth · BH11 9DG · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 4–11

    • KS250%
    • Absence6.5%
    • FSM40.8%

    1.9 miles away

  • Hill View Primary Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bournemouth · BH10 5BD · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 4–11

    • KS269%
    • Absence4.6%
    • FSM16.5%

    1.9 miles away

  • Ferndown First School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Ferndown · BH22 9FB · Dorset

    Ages 4–9

    • Absence5.6%
    • FSM18.5%

    2.1 miles away

  • Bournemouth School for Girls

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bournemouth · BH8 9UJ · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 11–18

    • Att871.7
    • P80.5
    • EM5+95%
    • Absence6.4%

    2.1 miles away

  • Winton Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bournemouth · BH9 2TG · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 4–11

    • KS293%
    • Absence4.6%
    • FSM13.5%

    2.1 miles away

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Anna Hewitt
Telephone
01202573808
Website
www.autism-unlimited.org/education/

Official links