Ofsted: Serious Weaknesses trending_up Places Available emoji_events #256 in Hampshire public Top 72% UK

The Ferns Primary Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personHead not listed

corporate_fareTHE KITE ACADEMY TRUST

location_onFarnborough, GU14 9FX

language Visit Website phone 127631554

verified

Ofsted

Serious Weaknesses

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

113

school

Expected Standard

55%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.5x

summarize

The Ferns Primary Academy is a Academy converter primary school in Farnborough, serving ages 4-11. Ranks in the top 72% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

The Ferns Primary Academy is an academy converter in Farnborough, Hampshire, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of THE KITE ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 85 pupils on roll, of whom 40% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 55% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #256 of 302 primaries in Hampshire and #11,579 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Serious Weaknesses. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.5× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.1:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 6.3 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

55%

LA 61%

Reading55% LA 74%

Writing64% LA 71%

Maths82% LA 72%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

31%

LA 58%England 61%

Reading46% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing31% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths54% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 59%England 60%

Reading43% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing17% LA 71% · Eng 71%

Maths26% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-6.2

Read

LA -0.6

-8.8 to -3.5

-7.2

Write

LA -0.7

-9.7 to -4.8

-8.5

Maths

LA -1.3

-11.0 to -5.9

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

01 October 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

20 September 2023

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

29 November 2022

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

06 June 2019

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-10-01

Serious Weaknesses S5 Reinspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-11-29

S5 Inspection EIF

Inadequate

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Inadequate

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-01-10

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2014-12-04

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

7.1%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.4%(2 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 85 pupils. During this period, there were 6 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 7.1%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	85	6	7.1%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	89	5	5.6%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	92	3	3.3%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	97	9	9.3%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	95	28	29.5%	0.8%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	102	17	16.7%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	113	20	17.7%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	111	37	33.3%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	119	22	18.5%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	125	30	24.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	125	8	6.4%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	133	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	141	1	0.7%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	141	8	5.7%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	126	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	126	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	116	0	0.0%	0.6%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 13 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 7 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

91.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

9.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree82%

agree9%

don't know9%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree55%

agree45%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree45%

agree9%

disagree9%

not applicable36%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree64%

agree27%

disagree9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree55%

agree45%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree36%

agree55%

don't know9%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree55%

agree45%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree45%

agree45%

disagree9%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree27%

agree64%

disagree9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes91%

no9%

Top Primary Schools in Hampshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Rucstall Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Basingstoke, RG21 3EX

emoji_events #1 in LA

Hook-With-Warsash Church of England Academy

Good

location_on Southampton, SO31 9GD

emoji_events #2 in LA

Lymington Junior School

Good

location_on Lymington, SO41 9GP

emoji_events #3 in LA

St Mary's Bentworth Church of England Primary School

Good

location_on Alton, GU34 5RE

emoji_events #4 in LA

Velmead Junior School

Good

location_on Fleet, GU52 7LG

emoji_events #5 in LA

St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Waterlooville

Good

location_on Waterlooville, PO7 7BP

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Hampshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Hampshire

Rucstall Primary School

Hook-With-Warsash Church of England Academy

Lymington Junior School

St Mary's Bentworth Church of England Primary School

Velmead Junior School

St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Waterlooville