Ferndown Middle School

Overview

Ferndown Middle School continues to be a good school, where pupils "enjoy learning" and engage positively with their studies. Leaders have successfully improved the curriculum since the pandemic, ensuring content is well-ordered and connected to pupils’ lives, while maintaining high expectations for behaviour.

Strengths

• The curriculum is "well planned" and carefully ordered, helping pupils make connections between prior and current learning.
• Teachers explain content clearly and are "skilful at picking up on mistakes and misconceptions," leading to improved writing.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are identified and supported appropriately, with staff adapting teaching effectively.
• There is a "strong culture of reading," with dedicated time for wide reading and extra help for those who have fallen behind.
• Enrichment opportunities, particularly music and sports, are popular and benefit all pupils, including disadvantaged students.

Areas to improve

• Assessment use is not yet consistent and does not always align with learning, so it fails to fully inform next steps or help pupils recall key knowledge.
• The school is struggling to positively engage parts of its community, leading to persisting negative views that leaders must address.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with well-trained staff, organised systems, and proactive work with external agencies to support vulnerable pupils.