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Applying for a Place at Ferndown Upper School
Ferndown Upper School’s admissions are handled by Dorset Council.
There are two ways to join Ferndown Upper School:
- Through the normal admissions route for a September start in Year 9.
- An in-year transfer at all other times of the year, for all year groups.
All applications should be made through Dorset Council via their website.
The closing date for applications is 31st October 2026
Any applications made between 1st November and 1st March will be considered only after the initial round of applications are allocated. Please be aware we are an over-subscribed school and may not have any available spaces after the on-time round of allocations.
We will let you know if your child has been allocated a placement at Ferndown Upper School on 1st March 2027.
The deadline for parents/carers to accept a school placement offer is 15th March 2027.
Parents or carers considering an in-year application may contact Donna Mitchell, the school’s Business Manager, to discuss options or arrange a tour of the school.
We may not be able to provide a placement for your child if there is no space available, or if the transfer date requested is deemed too disruptive (eg. the student is within their final exam season). Your situation should be discussed with the Business Manager before submitting an application.
Applications are processed half a term before the requested start date, but you can apply at any time from 1st March to 1st September.
What to Expect: the Admissions Application to Transfer Day Timeline
We understand the admissions and application process can feel daunting, especially for parents and carers applying for the first time. You are welcome to use the Dorset Council website to browse information and guides about sending your child to school, and you may also choose to contact Ferndown Upper School by email or telephone to discuss a potential transfer or September start.
Below is an illustrated timeline of events leading up to your child’s first day as a Year 9 student at Ferndown Upper School.*
*This timeline assumes you and your child are UK residents with no EHCP, and that your application is not submitted late. Please view the Policies on Dorset Council’s website and/or ask your child’s current school for advice if your situation differs.
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Who to Contact
Mrs. D Mitchell
Business Manager
Mrs. S Chater
Transfer Coordinator
Appeals Procedures
Dorset Council is the body responsible for allocating school placements, and any disagreement or appeal against a placement refusal or other admissions decision must also be handled by the Council.
The deadline for lodging an on-time admission appeal is 13th April 2026.
Any appeal lodged after this date will be heard within 40 school days of the appeal deadline or 30 school days of being lodged, whichever is the later date.
Appeals for in-year placement decisions will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged.
Dorset Council has on its website a wealth of information about sending your child to school, in an easily-digestible format. If you do have questions specific to Ferndown Upper School, please contact our Business Manager for questions regarding Admissions, or use the General Enquiry contact form on our Contact Us webpage.