Ocean Academy Poole

Ocean Academy demonstrates a strong overall performance, maintaining its 'good' rating following an ungraded inspection. Evidence suggests, however, that with further observation, the school could potentially achieve an 'outstanding' rating. This inspection marks the school's first review since May 2018, and it's noteworthy that the principal has recently been appointed. The school excels in creating an inclusive environment where every student, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieves remarkably well. Behaviour is commendable, and pupils display a strong work ethic and positive attitudes towards their learning.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve exceptionally well, with results significantly above average at key stage 2.
• Curriculum is broad and ambitious, effectively sequenced to facilitate learning.
• High-quality support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Strong focus on reading, with an engaging phonics program in place.
• Investments in staff well-being and professional development are appreciated by teachers.
• Pupils benefit from a wide range of leadership opportunities and extracurricular activities.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Ocean Academy Poole attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.3% of pupils at Ocean Academy Poole were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Ocean Academy Poole had 20.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 23.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 16.3% of pupils at Ocean Academy Poole were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Ocean Academy Poole received £6,145 and spent £7,059 for each of its 348 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £18,000 (-£50 per pupil).

Across all 16 schools of Aspirations Academies Trust, income was £8,111 and spending £8,266 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Poole · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole local authority: places and applications

Ocean Academy Poole is part of Aspirations Academies Trust, which runs 16 schools. The nearest others:

• Magna Academy Poole
• Livingstone Academy Bournemouth Bournemouth
• Jewell Academy Bournemouth Bournemouth
• Bovington Academy Wareham
• Budmouth Academy Weymouth Weymouth
• Atlantic Academy Portland Portland
• Oak Hill Academy West London Feltham
• Rivers Academy West London Feltham
• Space Studio West London Hounslow
• Oriel Academy West London Feltham

What is Ocean Academy Poole's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ocean Academy Poole is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was Ocean Academy Poole last inspected by Ofsted?

Ocean Academy Poole was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does Ocean Academy Poole have?

Ocean Academy Poole has 325 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ocean Academy Poole cover?

Ocean Academy Poole for pupils aged 7 to 11.

What are Ocean Academy Poole's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Ocean Academy Poole?

Ocean Academy Poole is at Constitution Hill Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, BH14 0PZ.