Ferndown Middle School is a mainstream middle school in Ferndown, Dorset, for children and young people aged 9 to 13. In January 2026, 90 of its 600 pupils (15%) were getting SEN support and 30 (5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 9–13
- 600 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Dorset.
15% get SEN support
90 of 600 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5% have an EHC plan
30 of 600 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia40
- Speech, language and communication29
- Social, emotional and mental health27
- Autism9
- Physical disability5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream middle school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 9 to 13
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 600 (places for 600)
- Headteacher
- Mr Phil Jones
- Part of
- Southern Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 20.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Dorset
- School reference (URN)
- 148163
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Dorset council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, January 2018; school remains Good (June 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2018. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, June 2023).
Contact and getting there
Peter Grant Way, Ferndown, BH22 9UP
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Ferndown Upper School Mainstream + base · Ages 13–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.3 miles
- Parley First School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–9 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Portfield School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 2.2 miles
- The White House School Independent · Ages 6–14 2.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Ferndown First School Primary · Ages 4–9 · SEN support 17%, EHC plans 4.9% 0.1 miles
- Hampreston Church of England Voluntary Aided First School Primary · Ages 5–9 · SEN support 12.7%, EHC plans 2.2% 1.4 miles
- Oakhurst Community First School Primary · Ages 5–9 · SEN support 20.2%, EHC plans 4.6% 1.6 miles
Questions about Ferndown Middle School
How many pupils at Ferndown Middle School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 90 of the 600 pupils (15%) were getting SEN support and 30 (5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Ferndown Middle School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (40 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (29 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (27 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ferndown Middle School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Ferndown Middle School?
Through Dorset council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Ferndown Middle School?
You can ask for Ferndown Middle School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Ferndown Middle School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Ferndown Upper School, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is Ferndown Middle School?
Peter Grant Way, Ferndown, BH22 9UP, in Dorset.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.