LeAF Studio
Bournemouth, BH11 9JW · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · secondary school
Check the area around this school
21st of 23 secondary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole we can score, 24 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 2.1/10 against 828 of them, against 2.4/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 32.9 · 20 | 46% | 0.94 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.18 · 36 | 38% | 1.39 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 36.1 · 7 | 15% | 0.11 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
LeAF Studio overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 30.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.18 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (2.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils attend the Move It Performing Arts Convention.
Getting in
The published school roll is 458 pupils against a stated capacity of 500. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific strategies are used to improve Progress 8 scores for students starting from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about LeAF Studio
Overview
LeAF Studio is described as a place where "pupils flourish" within a "special community" that is "free from judgement." The school delivers an "ambitious specialist curriculum" in sports and performing arts, supported by staff with significant industry expertise, resulting in strong vocational outcomes and excellent personal development.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from an "exceptional range of opportunities" to develop talents, with many performing at "national or international level."
- The "personal development curriculum is a strength," covering vital topics such as healthy relationships, knife crime, and managing grief.
- Staff possess "considerable expertise" in their subjects, having often worked as professionals in the sports or performing arts industries.
- Relationships are "positive, mutually respectful," and pupils feel safe with "confidence in adults to help them with any worries or concerns."
- The school provides "regular and independent careers advice," helping pupils broaden their prospects for further education or employment.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have "precise targets that are reviewed regularly" to support their progress in the core curriculum.
- Leaders need to address attendance, as there are "still too many pupils, who are often disadvantaged, that are persistently absent from school."
- Additional support for reading is "in the early stages of being implemented" and requires further development.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.5 |
| 2024/25 | 42.4 |
| 2025/26 | 36.1 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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