Ferndale Primary School & Nursery

About Ferndale Primary School & Nursery

Ferndale Primary School & Nursery sits comfortably above the Swindon local authority average for its key stage 2 headline metric, with 75% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined against an LA average of 62%. That 13-point gap places the school 12th out of 51 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the top quarter nationally. The school’s reading results are particularly strong — 98% of pupils met the expected standard and half reached the higher standard, well above typical local figures. Maths also performs well, with 89% at expected and an average scaled score of 106. While the school doesn’t top the LA leaderboard — Bishopstone, The Croft and Lift Hazelwood all score higher — Ferndale’s consistency across subjects suggests solid, reliable teaching rather than a narrow focus on one area.

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024 confirmed it remains Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. This is a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2014, when overall effectiveness was also Good but leadership was not separately rated at the top tier. The ungraded inspection in 2024 found the school continues to meet the Good standard, and the Outstanding leadership rating suggests strong direction from headteacher Elizabeth Horrobin. In terms of progress measures, the data is incomplete — reading, writing and maths progress scores are all missing — so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds beyond raw attainment. However, the high proportion of pupils reaching the higher standard in reading (50%) and maths (34%) indicates that more able pupils are being stretched.

Ferndale is a two-form entry primary with nursery provision for children from age two, and it’s clearly popular: for 2025/26 admissions, the school received 111 applications for 40 places, with 39 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.78. The school has a chapel on site, a library, music rooms and an outdoor playground, and offers a broad range of clubs including film, choir, drama, art, eco and book club. Sports provision covers football, tennis, gymnastics, cricket, dance and rounders. SEND support is well-documented, with provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional needs, speech and language issues, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. With 16.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals — slightly above the national average — the school serves a mixed catchment. It will suit families who value strong core academic outcomes, a broad enrichment programme and a school that has demonstrably improved its leadership quality.

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