Ferndown First School Catchment Area
Ferndown First School is an academy converter primary school in Ferndown, Dorset , serving pupils aged 4-9, with 360 pupils, and a capacity of 342 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
4-9
Age range
360
Pupils
342
Capacity
105%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2011
Ferndown First School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Ferndown First School?
The catchment area for Ferndown First School is the geographic zone Dorset uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Dorset publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Ferndown First School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Dorset. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Dorset publishes the 2027 Ferndown First School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Dorset before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Dorset catchment area documents →Ferndown First School: at or above its 342 place limit
Ferndown First School has a published admission number of 342 places. 360 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 105%. The school is at or above its published limit of 342 places. Dorset allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 18.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Ferndown.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Dorset publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Dorset Council school admissions (official) →
Ferndown First School: School Information
- Full address
- Mountbatten Drive, Ferndown, BH22 9FB
- Local authority
- Dorset
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 4-9 years
- Free school meals
- 18.6% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 148161
Other Primary Schools in Ferndown
If Ferndown First School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Ferndown are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to Ferndown First School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Ferndown First School
What is the catchment area for Ferndown First School? ▾
The catchment area for Ferndown First School is the geographic zone Dorset uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Dorset publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Ferndown First School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Ferndown First School currently has 360 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 342 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Ferndown First School? ▾
Admission to Ferndown First School is managed by Dorset. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Ferndown First School cover? ▾
Ferndown First School is a primary school in Ferndown, Dorset, serving pupils aged 4-9. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Ferndown First School? ▾
Ferndown First School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2011. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.