GCSE 2025/26
#1,660 of 3,312
Similar to most schools in England
Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.
A-level 2024/25
#1,272 of 2,536
Similar to most schools in England
Ranked by average points per A-level entry.
Ofsted report cardInspected 3 Mar 2026
Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 113854.
GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.
| Measure | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 score | 45.9 | - | 46.2 |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 65.8% | - | 64.8% |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 41.7% | - | 46.3% |
| Grade 7 or above in English and maths | 8.3% | - | 14.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 64.4% | - | 60.2% |
| Pupils at the end of key stage 4 | 278 | - | - |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.
| Measure | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points per A-level entry | 33.76 | - | 35 |
| Average A-level grade | C+ | - | - |
| Average points, best three A-levels | 33.52 | - | 35.78 |
| Average grade, best three A-levels | C+ | - | - |
| AAB or better | 10% | - | 17.5% |
| A-level progress score | -0.09 | - | - |
| A-level progress | Average | - | - |
| Students at the end of 16 to 18 study | 167 | - | - |
| Average applied general grade | Dist | - | - |
Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils | 1,134 |
| Girls | 569 |
| Boys | 565 |
| Eligible for free school meals | 19.5% |
| First language not English | 5.9% |
| SEN support | 141 |
| EHC plan | 48 |
| Average class size | 19.3 |
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Share of possible sessions missed. Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means missing 50% or more.
| Measure | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall absence | 7.2% | - | 8% |
| Persistent absence | 21.3% | - | 21.6% |
| Severe absence | 2.5% | - | 3.6% |
Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| School places | 1,224 |
| Pupils on roll | 1,131 |
| Unfilled places | 7.6% |
| Sixth form places | 406 |
| Sixth form pupils on roll | 294 |
Source: DfE, School capacity, Academic year 2024/25, published 19 Mar 2026.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 16.8 |
| Pupils per adult | 11.7 |
| Teachers (FTE) | 67.55 |
| Teaching assistants (FTE) | 14.48 |
| Support staff (FTE) | 54.58 |
| Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25 | 63.3 |
| Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/25 | 58.4 |
| Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/25 | 2 |
| Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/25 | 2.9 |
Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Suspension rate | 10.6% |
| Pupils with one or more suspensions | 6.2% |
| Permanent exclusion rate | 0.5% |
| Permanent exclusions | 6 |
Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.
Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destination | 94.1% |
| Staying in education | 86.2% |
| School sixth form | 51% |
| Further education | 34.7% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.7% |
| Not sustained | 5.4% |
| Employment | 1.3% |
| Sixth form college | 0.4% |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destination | 85.7% |
| Higher education | 37% |
| Employment | 27.9% |
| Apprenticeship | 12.3% |
| Not sustained | 10.4% |
| Further education | 0% |
Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.
| Distance | Phase | Name | Type | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 mi | Middle deemed secondary | Ferndown Middle School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 10 Jan 2018. | |
| 0.4 mi | Primary | Ferndown First School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 14 Sept 2010. | |
| 1.0 mi | Primary | Parley First School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 3 Jul 2023. | |
| 1.5 mi | Primary | Hampreston Church of England Voluntary Aided First School | Academy converter | Outstanding Ofsted rating. Inspected 1 May 2013. | |
| 1.5 mi | Middle deemed secondary | West Moors Middle School | Community school | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 9 Jun 2026. | |
| 1.5 mi | Primary | Oakhurst Community First School | Academy converter | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 14 Apr 2026. | |
| 1.7 mi | Primary | St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery | Academy converter | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 23 Apr 2025. |
Ferndown Upper School is rated Good, last inspected on 3 Mar 2026. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.
Ferndown Upper School ranks 1,660 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools) and 1,272 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (similar to most schools).
Ferndown Upper School has 1,134 pupils aged 13 to 19, with capacity for 1,224.
Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.