Linwood School

  • Special
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 2 to 19
Ofsted judgements: Outstanding

Alma Road, Winton, Bournemouth, BH9 1AJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Linwood School is a special school in Bournemouth for ages 2 to 19. It is one of the 111 schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 28 January 2025, report published 5 March 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Early years provision
Outstanding
Sixth form provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 January 2025

At Linwood school pupils, including children in the early years and sixth-form students, are happy, safe and nurtured with care. The school has very high aspirations for pupils to succeed. Across the different campuses, pupils are enabled and supported to learn extremely well. Consequently, they are very well prepared for their next steps. Through the carefully constructed curriculum, pupils engage with learning a range of skills. The staff evaluate each pupil's learning needs with expertise. This results in highly bespoke approaches to the development of each pupil. For example, some pupils learn how to travel across the city by bus, while others study GCSEs in English and mathematics. This highly personalised approach to learning enables each pupil to flourish. Pupils' behaviour in lessons and around the school is exceptional. Children in the early years learn the routines of school very well. Sixth-form students manage their independent learning with maturity. Through very strong relationships with staff and each other, pupils learn the importance of friendship, kindness and consent. Throughout the curriculum, pupils learn and practise the concepts of individual liberty and democracy. They have many opportunities to communicate their ideas about the subjects they study.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

29 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 62 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Pupil numbers and mix

437 pupils on roll, with places for 472

Eligible for free school meals44.2%

44.2%, 17.7 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language14.9%

14.9%, 6.7 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support0%

0%, 14.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan100%

100%, 94 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Linwood School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Langside School2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Tregonwell Academy2 milesOfsted: OutstandingAttainment 8: 4.7
Victoria Education Centre2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
The Lion Works School3 milesNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 3.3
Winchelsea School3 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standardAttainment 8: 0.1

School details

School type
Community special school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
2 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Mrs Gemma Talbot
Address
Alma Road, Winton, Bournemouth, BH9 1AJ
URN
113961

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.