Admissions Guide

Admissions Overview

The Bourne Academy is a non-selective school. This means that unlike the grammar schools in the local area, students do not need to sit an entrance exam or the 11+ to gain a place here. Admission is based on standard criteria such as distance from the school, sibling links, and specific needs, rather than academic ability.

As an academy sponsor led, the THE BOURNE ACADEMY is the official admissions authority for the school. However, like all state-funded secondary schools in the region, regular Year 7 intake is managed centrally through the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) coordinated admissions scheme.

The school has a published capacity of 1050 pupils, and typically admits students based on a Published Admission Number (PAN) for Year 7 each September.

The Application Timeline

If your child is currently in Year 6, you must apply for a secondary school place through your home local authority (which is BCP Council if you live within its borders, or Dorset/Hampshire if you live outside but wish to apply here). The statutory timeline applies to all applicants:

• 31 October: This is the absolute national deadline for submitting your secondary school application. You will list your preferred schools in ranked order.
• 1 March (National Offer Day): You will be notified by your local authority which school your child has been allocated.
• Spring/Summer Term: If you are not offered a place at The Bourne Academy, you have the legal right to appeal the decision to an independent panel. Waitlists are also typically managed during this period.

Oversubscription and Catchment

When a school receives more applications than it has places available, it is considered "oversubscribed." When this happens at a non-selective school, places are allocated according to a strict set of oversubscription criteria.

Legally, the highest priority is always given to Looked After Children (LAC) or previously Looked After Children, and those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that specifically names the school. After these statutory obligations are met, schools typically prioritise children who already have siblings at the school, followed by those living closest to the school gates (measured via straight-line distance or designated catchment areas).