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Ferndown, South West
Ferndown Upper School is a secondary community school in Ferndown, South West.
Government data shown for the 2024/25 academic year
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Ferndown Upper School is a secondary community school in Ferndown, South West. It has not yet been rated by students on y.school. Be the first to rate this community school and help other students and parents understand what the school experience is really like.
In terms of academic performance, Ferndown Upper School has a Progress 8 score of +0.34 (above the national average), an Attainment 8 score of 48.3, 74% of students achieving grade 4+ in English and Maths, an average A-Level grade of C.
The school has 588 pupils on roll, a teacher turnover rate of 15.0%, 20% of pupils eligible for free school meals, an overall absence rate of 7.8%.
After leaving Ferndown Upper School, student destinations include 34% going on to university and 11% entering apprenticeships.
All student scores on y.school are calculated from anonymous ratings using a transparent, deterministic methodology. Scores are freshness-weighted (18-month half-life) and include confidence tiers based on sample size, diversity, and consistency. For full details, see the y.school methodology.
Profile completeness: 6 of 8 data domains · Good coverage
5.7
Average
/ 10
Data Score
Computed from 22 government data points. Not based on student reviews.
Source: DfE / Ofsted · context onlyGovernment data is shown for context and does not influence the student-review Student Score. Small schools can show extreme percentages from small sample sizes.
Latest government data shown is for the 2024/25 academic year; some figures cover earlier years.
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Ferndown Upper School has a Progress 8 score of +0.34, which is above the national average of 0. Progress 8 measures how much progress students make between the end of Key Stage 2 and their GCSE results, compared to students with similar starting points nationally.
The school's Attainment 8 score is 48.3. Attainment 8 measures the average achievement of students across 8 qualifications including English, Maths, three EBacc subjects, and three open group qualifications.
74% of students at Ferndown Upper School achieved grade 4 or above in both English and Maths GCSEs.
Students at Ferndown Upper School achieve an average A-Level grade of C. This metric covers all A-Level and equivalent qualifications taken at the school.
Ferndown Upper School has an overall absence rate of 7.8%. The national average for secondary schools was approximately 8.5% (DfE, 2023/24).
The teacher turnover rate at Ferndown Upper School is 15.0%. This measures the percentage of teachers who left the school in the past year.
Ferndown Upper School has 588 pupils on roll.
20% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is used as a proxy for socioeconomic disadvantage.
16% of pupils receive SEN (Special Educational Needs) support or have an Education, Health and Care plan.
After leaving Ferndown Upper School, 34% go on to university and 11% enter apprenticeships.
Based on the latest government data. Every child is different — use this as a starting point, not a verdict.
In context — vs similar-intake schools
Top 25% for its intakeFerndown Upper School is in the top 25% for Progress 8 among schools with a similar intake (17–24% of pupils eligible for free school meals).
Compared with 697 schools nationally that have a similar share of disadvantaged pupils (17–24% of pupils eligible for free school meals). Raw league-table positions are heavily shaped by intake; this comparison isolates how a school performs relative to others facing similar circumstances. Progress 8 already accounts for prior attainment. Source: Department for Education.
See the schools that most outperform their intakeSchools like this one
Matched on the share of disadvantaged pupils plus special-needs, English-as-an-additional-language and school size — so you can compare like with like, not just by postcode.
National percentiles (100 = best) for the area around the school · 5/5 measures · Police.uk, DEFRA, NaPTAN, DfT STATS19, MHCLG IoD 2025.
Other schools in the Ferndown area
Ferndown Upper School was rated "Good" by Ofsted following an inspection in December 2021 (4 years ago). Based on Ofsted's inspection cycle, Ferndown Upper School is overdue for reinspection.
A "Good" rating means Ofsted found the school provides a high standard of education across all areas assessed. It has historically been the most common Ofsted rating.
Note: From November 2025, Ofsted replaced single-word judgements with detailed report cards covering multiple categories. While Ferndown Upper School's rating shown above was awarded under the previous system, Ofsted now provides more granular assessments. For the most up-to-date inspection information, check the school's report card on the Ofsted website.
Ofsted data is shown for context only and does not influence the Student Score. For the official report, visit reports.ofsted.gov.uk.