SchoolScoresFerndown First School
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 9 · Mixed
Part of SOUTHERN EDUCATION TRUST
Mountbatten Drive, Ferndown, BH22 9FB
01202 873747 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 14 September 2010. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 10 November 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
72 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Dorset comparisons use the 53 of its 119 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 66 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 20th highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 54% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 93% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 15th highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 17th highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 88% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 19 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 10th highest of 34 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 70% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 55% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 47 parents who had raised a concern 20th highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 61% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 82% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 12th highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 77% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97%said yes | 89% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Dorset figures pool parents at the Dorset schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Dorset. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 89 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 76 |
| Of those, offered a place | 76 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 147 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 43% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.6% | 19.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 67% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.9% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 16.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.1% | 5.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Lower than 21% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.2% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Lower than 23% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 17.2% | 12.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Lower than 34% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.2 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Lower than 45% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.8% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 72% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.5 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 67% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.7 | 10.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 70% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 18.6% | 15.3%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Parley First School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Hampreston CofE Voluntary Aided First School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2013, before conversion)
- Oakhurst Community First School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- St Mary's CofE First School and Nursery 1.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Hayeswood First School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Kinson Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Colehill First School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Christ The King Catholic Primary School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 15% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bearwood Primary and Nursery School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elm Academy 2.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Ferndown First School's Ofsted rating?
Ferndown First School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 September 2010. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 10 November 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Would parents recommend Ferndown First School?
97% of the 72 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Ferndown First School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Ferndown First School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 76 families put Ferndown First School as their first choice for 89 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 76 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 148161.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.