St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery, Ferndown
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This is a warm, welcoming school where staff build strong relationships and get to know each child well. Reading is a real priority with expert teaching helping all pupils become confident, fluent readers. The school is also excellent at developing pupils' leadership skills and sense of responsibility - children vote for role models and participate in community activities like singing at care homes.
Key Strengths
- Warm relationships and welcoming environment help pupils feel comfortable and secure
- Strong focus on early reading with well-trained staff ensuring pupils become fluent readers
- Clear curriculum sequencing from Nursery to Year 4 helps pupils retain important knowledge
- Well-developed pupils' leadership skills through democratic voting for role models
- Pupils achieve well in national assessment and attendance has improved
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistencies in how misconceptions in mathematics and some other subjects are identified and addressed
- Gaps in knowledge from previous curriculum have not been fully addressed in some subjects
- Support for pupils with SEND sometimes lacks precision in helping them meet their personalised targets
- Need for more effective assessment systems to identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with staff supporting pupils to feel comfortable sharing any worries.
Extracurricular Activities
Forest garden activities, bush crafts, visits to local lakes, singing at local care homes, serving soup to local residents, water safety talks, fire brigade visits, visits from scientists and athletes
St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery is a welcoming school where warm relationships underpin everything that happens. Pupils achieve well and are well prepared for their next stage of learning.
At a Glance
16.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
42 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
23.8
Avg class size
24.7
Infant (KS1)
22.5
KS2
5
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
80%
Available places
148 pupils
184 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(4)
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
4.78144%
Overall absence
12.2449%
Persistent absence
98
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
St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery
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