Ferndown Upper School Catchment Area
Ferndown Upper School is a community secondary school in Ferndown, Dorset , serving pupils aged 13-19, with 1169 pupils, and a capacity of 1146 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
13-19
Age range
1,169
Pupils
1,146
Capacity
102%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2016
Ferndown Upper School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Ferndown Upper School?
The catchment area for Ferndown Upper School is the geographic zone Dorset uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary 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.
Secondary school places at Ferndown Upper School are allocated by Dorset using ranked oversubscription criteria. Catchment area residence is typically among the highest priorities after looked-after children and siblings, and the boundary is reviewed each year.
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 Upper 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 Upper School: at or above its 1146 place limit
Ferndown Upper School has a published admission number of 1146 places. 1169 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 102%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1146 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. 21.7% of pupils at Ferndown Upper School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Dorset.
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 Upper School: School Information
- Full address
- Cherry Grove, Ferndown, BH22 9EY
- Local authority
- Dorset
- School type
- Community school
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 13-19 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 21.7% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 113854
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Ferndown Upper 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Ferndown Upper School
What is the catchment area for Ferndown Upper School? ▾
The catchment area for Ferndown Upper School is the geographic zone Dorset uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary 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 Upper School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Ferndown Upper School currently has 1169 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1146 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Ferndown Upper School? ▾
Admission to Ferndown Upper 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 Upper School cover? ▾
Ferndown Upper School is a secondary school in Ferndown, Dorset, serving pupils aged 13-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Ferndown Upper School? ▾
Ferndown Upper School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2016. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.