Ferndown Upper School, Ferndown
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 6 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Ferndown Upper School excels at supporting all pupils to succeed, particularly those who are disadvantaged or have additional needs. The school creates a welcoming, inclusive environment where behaviour is exemplary and pupils develop into confident, well-rounded individuals. With an impressive range of clubs, trips, and leadership opportunities, alongside strong careers guidance, the school prepares pupils exceptionally well for their futures.
Key Strengths
- Pupils make remarkable progress, especially disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, with attainment in line with or above national averages
- Exemplary pupil behaviour and strong attendance, with low and decreasing suspension rates
- Inclusive culture with expert support for pupils with SEND, including a highly effective specially resourced provision
- Extensive enrichment activities and extra-curricular offer that develop pupil confidence and resilience
- Strong pastoral care and comprehensive careers guidance preparing pupils well for their next steps
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching is not consistently adapted to meet individual pupil needs, which sometimes hinders progress and quality of work
- Closing gaps in reading, writing and mathematics is not always consistently reinforced across lessons
- Some inconsistencies in quality of teaching across the sixth form are impacting A-level student progress
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, resulting in pupils feeling safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award, residential trips, clubs, overseas trips, charity fundraising events, student leadership roles, work experience, university-led projects, visiting speakers
Ferndown Upper School is a strong performing school where pupils make remarkable progress from their starting points, with particularly impressive outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND. The school has established an inclusive culture with exemplary pupil behaviour and comprehensive support systems.
At a Glance
20.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLCN - Speech, language and Communication
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
20.6
Avg class size
47
Total classes
5 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
1,134 pupils
1,146 capacity
12 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Ferndown
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Ferndown
Admissions Demand - Dorset
Places available
2,822
Applications
2,234
Got 1st preference
96.1%
Got preferred school
98.4%
Secondary admissions across Dorset (2025/26)
Inspection History(13)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.08194%
Overall absence
21.31336%
Persistent absence
868
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Ferndown Upper School
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