Classpot

Ferndown First School

Dorset, BH22 9FBPrimaryAges 4–9MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2023
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
60 1st-choice / 69 places
Ranking
Not ranked

About Ferndown First School

Ferndown First School sits in a local authority where the average Key Stage 2 score for primary schools is 56, but the school itself does not publish its own KS2 results in the data available. What stands out more immediately is its oversubscription: the school received 123 applications for 69 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, a ratio of 1.78 applicants per place, and offered places to all 60 first-preference applicants. That level of demand suggests strong local confidence, even if the headline academic metric isn't directly comparable here. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in November 2023, confirmed it remains Good, with leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all rated Good. Its previous graded inspection in 2010 had rated it Requires Improvement, so the improvement trajectory is clear.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 9 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressMountbatten Drive, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9FB
HeadteacherSean Watts
Local AuthorityDorset
Number of Pupils360
Free School Meals (FSM)18.6%
School Capacity360 / 342 (105% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

10 Nov 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (10 Nov 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 4 Feb 2011. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Sports HallICT SuiteSensory RoomDining HallArt StudiosPlaying FieldsLibraryOutdoor PlaygroundChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

GymnasticsTennisRoundersAthleticsDanceCross CountryNetball

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubDramaGardening

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearing

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Ferndown First School

Ferndown First School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.