Christchurch Infant School

Christchurch Infant School is a mainstream infant school that is performing securely overall. Pupils typically achieve well and are well prepared for junior school, with a consistent focus on early reading, writing and number beginning in the early years. Phonics and mathematics are taught effectively, pupils’ work shows successful curriculum learning, and children in Reception get a positive start. Behaviour is calm, pupils feel safe and bullying is rare, and attendance is broadly in line with national averages. The school is inclusive: pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils are identified quickly and supported well, and pastoral care and enrichment are strong. The school has been through significant change, having joined Twynham Learning multi academy trust and appointed a new headteacher in September 2024. Leaders, including trust leaders, have supported staff through that period and have created a culture of high expectations; staff and most parents value their work. Safeguarding standards are met, and the personal development programme, including pupils’ understanding of British values and safety, is a notable strength. There are still areas to improve. Leaders’ record-keeping, including safeguarding records, is not detailed enough to show actions and evaluate impact. Pupils’ handwriting and spelling need strengthening across the curriculum. Teachers do not always recognise early enough when pupils are confident, so some pupils do not move on to new learning quickly enough. Leaders also recognise further work is needed to improve attendance for pupils who miss school frequently and to sharpen oversight of club attendance.

Strengths

• Pupils typically achieve well and are ready for junior school by the end of Year 2.
• Phonics and mathematics teaching are effective, with pupils developing secure reading and number skills.
• Children in the early years get a positive start in an inspiring, nurturing environment.
• Pupils behave well, feel safe and say bullying is rare.
• Attendance is broadly in line with national averages.
• Pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils are identified quickly and supported effectively.
• Pastoral support is highly effective, including for social, emotional and mental health needs.
• The personal development programme teaches pupils about values, safety, healthy relationships and local risks.
• Pupils benefit from a wide range of enrichment, trips and clubs.
• Leaders have created a culture of high expectations and are well respected by staff, pupils and parents.
• Staff appreciate the quality and pace of professional learning and leaders’ consideration of workload.
• Safeguarding standards are met and there is an open culture of safeguarding.

Areas for Improvement

• Leaders’ record-keeping, including safeguarding records, lacks sufficient detail to review actions and evaluate impact.
• Pupils’ handwriting and spelling need strengthening across the curriculum.
• Teachers do not always recognise early enough when pupils are confident, so some pupils do not move on quickly enough.
• Further work is needed to improve attendance for pupils who miss school frequently.
• Oversight of club attendance is still being refined to ensure all pupils access the full offer.

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 Christchurch Infant School attended 95.0% 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, 2.0% of pupils at Christchurch Infant School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was 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 Christchurch Infant School had 20.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.8% 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, 9.8% of pupils at Christchurch Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.8% 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 Christchurch Infant School received £6,489 and spent £6,738 for each of its 303 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £139,000 (£460 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of Twynham Learning, income was £7,598 and spending £7,640 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 Christchurch · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole local authority: places and applications

Christchurch Infant School is part of Twynham Learning, which runs 8 schools. The nearest others:

• Christchurch Junior School Christchurch
• Twynham School Christchurch
• Twynham Primary School Christchurch
• Stourfield Infant School Bournemouth
• Stourfield Junior School Bournemouth
• The Grange School Christchurch
• Poole High School Poole

What is Christchurch Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Christchurch Infant School is Expected standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Christchurch Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

Christchurch Infant School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Christchurch Infant School have?

Christchurch Infant School has 285 pupils on roll.

What age range does Christchurch Infant School cover?

Christchurch Infant School for pupils aged 5 to 7.

Where is Christchurch Infant School?

Christchurch Infant School is at Addiscombe Road, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 2AE.