Ferndown Middle School
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Ferndown Middle School is a converter academy in Ferndown for boys and girls aged 9 to 13. It has 600 pupils and every place is taken. About 21 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 56 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 48% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2023.
Peter Grant Way, Ferndown, BH22 9UP01202 876556fernmid.dorset.sch.ukMr Phil Jones headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
A shorter visit on 21 June 2023 found nothing to change the school's grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall. A shorter follow-up visit found nothing to change that. The last full inspection was before September 2019, which is as far back as Ofsted's public records go, so we can't show its date or the grades for each area.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
152 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019† | 2018† | 2017† | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 152 | 153 | 151 | 148 | 148 | 144 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 45% | 56% | 53% | 51% | 46% | 51% | 57% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 1% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 7% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 103.0 | 104.0 | 104.0 | 101.0 | 102.0 | 103.0 | 104.8 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 102.0 | 101.0 | 101.0 | 103.0 | 100.0 | 101.0 | 103.3 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 102.0 | 103.0 | 103.0 | 104.0 | 105.0 | 103.0 | 104.0 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 72% | 74% | 75% | 66% | 66% | 64% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 66% | 61% | 64% | 70% | 55% | 65% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 55% | 77% | 72% | 66% | 66% | 63% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | -0.4 | -4.0 | -3.0 | -2.6 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -1.9 | -3.0 | -4.6 | -4.2 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | 32% | 34% | 27% | 21% | 25% | 36% | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | 48% | 60% | 60% | 59% | 50% | 55% | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
† These results are for Ferndown Middle School, the school this one replaced in January 2021. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Does every child do well here?
A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 3 of the 4 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.
At the end of primary school, 2025
Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published.
The school is full, with 6 more pupils than it has places for. More families apply than can get in, so things like how close you live and whether an older brother or sister is already here decide who gets a place. Pupil numbers have grown by 5% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.
The last child to get a place lived 6.1 miles away in 2025, 3.0 miles away in 2022, 4.6 miles away in 2021. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.
We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.
How places were given out for September 2025. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 6.1 miles from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year.
| Entry | Places | Put it first | Applied at all | Got a place | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Secondary | 150 | 153 | 222 | 150 | 6.1 miles | LA |
| 2022 Secondary | 150 | 148 | 223 | 150 | 3.0 miles | LA |
| 2021 Secondary | 150 | 156 | 227 | 150 | 4.6 miles (feeder school) | LA |
| 2020 Secondary | 150 | 167 | 242 | 150 | 2.8 miles (feeder school) | LA |
The distances are the council's own, usually measured in a straight line from home to the school gate. If the distance is getting shorter each year, the school is getting harder to get into. See which councils we have this data for.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Specific learning difficulty (40), language and communications needs (29), emotional and mental health (27), Autistic spectrum disorder (9), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (6), Physical disability (5).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 600 | 613 | 601 | 595 | 577 | 585 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 21% | 21% | 19% | 20% | 19% | 19% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 2% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 13% | 11% | 12% | 13% | 17% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 5% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 2% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.3% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19† | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 6.7% | 6.5% | 7.1% | 7.4% | 4.7% | 4.8% | 8.6% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.8% | 4.6% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 3.2% | 2.9% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.8% | 1.9% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 1.5% | 1.9% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 17.6% | 17.9% | 19.4% | 20.6% | 10.6% | 10.1% | 23.9% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 20.4 | 9.8 | 5.6 | 6.6 | 4.1 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | – | – |
† These attendance figures are for Ferndown Middle School, the school this one replaced in January 2021. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndown First School | Academy | 130 m | 348 | Good 2023 | 26 | Compare |
| Ferndown Upper School | Council | 450 m | 1,134 | Report card 2026 | 68 | Compare |
| Parley First School | Academy | 0.7 miles | 313 | Good 2023 | 39 | Compare |
| Hampreston Church of England Voluntary Aided First School | Academy | 1.4 miles | 134 | Not inspected | – | Compare |
| West Moors Middle School | Council | 1.6 miles | 240 | Report card 2026 | 49 | Compare |
| Oakhurst Community First School | Academy | 1.7 miles | 173 | Report card 2026 | 26 | Compare |
| St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery | Academy | 1.9 miles | 148 | No overall grade 2025 | 54 | Compare |
| Portfield School | Non-maintained special | 2.2 miles | 144 | Not inspected | – | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Ferndown Middle School with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Ferndown Middle School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Michael's Church of England Middle School, Colehill | Academy | 3.0 miles | 563 | Good 2024 | 76 | Compare |
| Allenbourn Middle School | Academy | 3.8 miles | 499 | No overall grade 2025 | 73 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 56 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 56% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 35 to 74. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 0% | no data | – | |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old) | in line | +0.04 | Ofsted grade, 3.2 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 0% | no data | – | |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | below | -0.11 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | above | +0.15 | 2024/25; 621 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 0% | no data | – | |
| What pupils do next | 0% | no data | – | |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Ferndown Middle School a good school?
It is about average. Ferndown Middle School scores 56 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 48% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 35 to 74, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is Ferndown Middle School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Ferndown Middle School good at its last full inspection on 21 June 2023.
How good are Ferndown Middle School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 45% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 1% went further and reached the higher level.
How many pupils does Ferndown Middle School have?
600 pupils aged 9 to 13 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 600 places, so it is 100% full.
Is Ferndown Middle School oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?
Yes. For September 2025 the last place went to a child living 6.1 miles away. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.
What is attendance like at Ferndown Middle School?
Pupils were in school 93.3% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 18% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Ferndown Middle School?
The average class had 27.3 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 17% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
Does Ferndown Middle School have a sixth form?
No. Pupils leave after Year 11 for a sixth form elsewhere, a college or an apprenticeship.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Peter Grant Way, Ferndown, BH22 9UP
- Telephone
- 01202 876556
- Website
- fernmid.dorset.sch.uk
- Headteacher
- Mr Phil Jones
- Type of school
- Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
- Phase
- Middle school, ages 9-13
- Gender
- Mixed
- Multi-academy trust
- Southern Education Trust (11 schools)
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Ward
- Ferndown North
- Constituency
- Christchurch
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 January 2021 (academy converter)
- URN
- 148163 · LAESTAB 8384184 · UKPRN 10086737
- Formerly
- Ferndown Middle School
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Dorset council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.