Ferndown Upper School
Secondary · Community school · Ages 13–19 · Ferndown, Dorset
Ferndown Upper School is a secondary school in Ferndown, Dorset for ages 13–19 (community school).
Open on the map Unlock with a pass · £9.99
Key facts
- Address
- Cherry Grove, Ferndown, BH22 9EY
- Type
- Community school
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 13–19
- Sector
- See recorded establishment type
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Council
- Dorset
- Pupils on roll
- 1,134 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 19.5% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 16.8
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
No Ofsted grade Inspected 3 March 2026
Strengths
- “Pupils are happy and safe at Ferndown Upper School.”
- “This is reflected in their regular attendance.”
- “Pupils value the positive relationships they have with staff.”
To improve
- “However, staff do not consistently adapt teaching appropriately.”
- “This sometimes hinders pupils' progress through the curriculum and their ability to produce high-quality work.”
- “Closing gaps in pupils' knowledge of reading, writing and mathematics remains a priority.”
Safeguarding: met
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 6 May 2026 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths, grade 5 or above (2024/25) | 45% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 score (2024/25) | 45.7 | 46 |
| A level average grade (2024/25) | C+ | B- |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
More with a 3-month pass
A one-off £9.99 pass, no subscription, unlocks for 3 months:
- The council’s catchment or priority area for this school on the map
- Earlier years of exam results
- Where pupils go after they leave
- Crime, sold prices, broadband and transport around the school
A last distance offered describes one past year and is not a catchment or a promise of a place. Check with the council before you apply.
Nearby secondary schools
Straight-line distance, in Dorset.
- Queen Elizabeth's School 4.4 mi Requires improvement
- Lytchett Minster School 8.2 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- The Blandford School 12.3 mi Good Last distance published
- The Purbeck School 12.9 mi Improved significantly Last distance published
- The Swanage School 14.0 mi Good Last distance published
- Shaftesbury School 18.4 mi Good
- Sturminster Newton High School 19.6 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Gillingham School 22.6 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published