SchoolScoresParley First School
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 9 · Mixed
Part of SOUTHERN EDUCATION TRUST
Glenmoor Road, Ferndown, BH22 8QE
01202 874400 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 3 July 2023.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
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 about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 58 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 66 |
| Of those, offered a place | 56 (85%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 135 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.1
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 10 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 24% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.0% | 19.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 91% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.8% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 20% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.1% | 16.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.6% | 5.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Lower than 54% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.9% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.8% | 12.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Lower than 46% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.3 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Lower than 64% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 39% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.7 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 37% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.0 | 10.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 47% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 11.4% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Ferndown First School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2010, before conversion), confirmed 2023
- Hampreston CofE Voluntary Aided First School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2013, before conversion)
- Kinson Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Christ The King Catholic Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 15% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oakhurst Community First School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- Elm Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bearwood Primary and Nursery School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Epiphany School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's CofE First School and Nursery 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Hill View Primary Academy 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Parley First School's Ofsted rating?
Parley First School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 3 July 2023.
Is Parley First School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 66 families put Parley First School as their first choice for 58 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 56 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 148162.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.