Oakhurst Community First School, Ferndown
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Oakhurst excels at creating an inclusive, caring community where every child - including those with additional needs or disadvantages - feels valued and supported. The school's strong focus on reading, phonics and early language skills gives children a solid foundation for learning. Staff genuinely care about pupil wellbeing, with high-quality pastoral support and a behaviour approach based on the school values of caring, resilience, confidence and wonder.
Key Strengths
- Highly inclusive approach supporting all pupils including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils
- Strong focus on reading with pupils becoming confident readers by end of Year 4
- Consistently positive behaviour and attendance at national average with targeted support for families
- Well-designed curriculum covering essential subjects with effective teaching strategies
- Strong pastoral care and support for pupils' emotional and behavioural needs
Areas for Improvement
- Some variability in how pupils form letters and numbers correctly in written work
- Some curriculum adaptations for pupils with SEND do not always match specific needs precisely
- Some early years staff could focus more on specific language development
- Some SEND targets lack precision despite generally being well thought out
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Gymnastics, dodgeball, lunchtime and after-school clubs
Oakhurst Community First School provides a highly inclusive approach to education where pupils develop well in reading, writing and mathematics. The school maintains strong attendance and behaviour standards while prioritising pupil wellbeing and personal development.
At a Glance
20.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Not Applicable
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
28.3
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
27.5
KS2
4
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
83%
Available places
173 pupils
209 capacity
36 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Ferndown
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Ferndown
Admissions Demand - Dorset
Places available
3,776
Applications
2,808
Got 1st preference
94.1%
Got preferred school
99.1%
Primary admissions across Dorset (2025/26)
Inspection History(105)
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
5.17266%
Overall absence
14.65517%
Persistent absence
116
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Oakhurst Community First School
Nearby Schools
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