Ferndown Upper School


Ferndown Upper School is a comprehensive school and sixth form located in Ferndown, Dorset, England. Opened in 1972, it has grown to accommodate a broad and successful curriculum including a specialism in STEM (science, technology and maths) and the Arts.

Ferndown Upper School
Address
Cherry Grove

Ferndown
,
Dorset
,
BH22 9EY

England
Coordinates50°48′22″N 1°54′09″W
Information
TypeCommunity school
Established1972
Local authorityDorset
Department for Education URN113854 Tables
OfstedReports
Chair of GovernorsRobert Osborough[1]
HeadteacherPhilip Jones [2]
GenderCoeducational
Age13 to 19
Enrolment1027
HousesThornton
Read
Cheetham
Colour(s)Yellow and house colours (Red, Green and Purple)
Websitehttp://www.fernup.dorset.sch.uk


Academic Achievement

For three consecutive years now Ferndown Upper School achieved high academic success with the best results for GCSE progress in Dorset. The last time the DfE produced performance tables Ferndown Upper was declared the 'Best Upper School in the Country'.[3]


STEM Curriculum and Achievements

Ferndown Upper School has major achievements in and a pioneer the STEM curriculum areas of the school.


Science Curriculum

It is one of few non-selective state schools in the country to enable all students to study all three single science GCSEs. This was to ensure equal access to all students and to build upon the excellent record that Ferndown Upper had of delivering Biology, Chemistry and Physics. An All Party Parliamentary Committee looking into STEM education quoted this curriculum innovation as examples of best practice in a Parliamentary Report published in May 2020.[4]

Digital Technology Curriculum

The school has expanded its specialism into a broad but specialist digital technology curriculum that now even goes beyond the classroom. The school boasts its own Computing and Robotics Centre, a set of specialist laboratories to allow digital engineering, software engineering and robotics in their curriculum from Year 9 to Year 13. This was recently further enhanced by a £100,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation in 2020 to help develop some of these specialist areas.[5]

In September 2020, the school with designated a ‘FIRST Champion School’ in recognition of its work as a centre of excellence in engaging students in engineering and robotics.[6] In January 2020 the department’s fernDOWNLOAD Robotics club became regional champions in the FIRST TECH CHALLENGE competition (Season 19/20).[7] The department now boasts the largest girls’ competitive robotics club in the country.

In 2020 Ferndown Upper School was announced to be the first school in Dorset to be launching the new pioneering 'T Level' courses at its Sixth Form in 2022. The school will be the first to fully train Software Developers and Network Engineers with these new qualifications developed with assistance from local industry.[8]

References
  1. "Ferndown Upper School". Ferndown Upper School. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  2. "Dorset Schools Forum Membership". Dorset For You. Dorset County Council. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  3. "DfE Gov Website" DfE Gov Website. Retrieved 5 Feb 2021.
  4. "APPG Report" APPG Report on STEM. Retrieved 5 Feb 2021.
  5. "Digital Tech Dept" Ferndown Upper School Website. Retrieved 5 Feb 2021.
  6. "FIRST UK Hub Map" FIRST UK Website. Retrieved 5 Feb 2021.
  7. "South West Champs" FIRST UK Website. Retrieved 5 Feb 2021.
  8. "Ferndown Upper School First to offer T Levels" Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 5 Feb 2021.


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