Our school is an academy and and belongs to the Castleman Academy Trust.
Children first start school in the September after their 4th birthday. The first year in school is a very special time and we try to make sure that there are lots of opportunities for you to meet with staff to discuss progress.
For more information about School Admissions, please click here.
If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan, please contact the Special Educational Needs Team who will be able to help you with your child’s continued education and advise of the next steps.
Admission Appeals Timetable – Entry in September 2025
School Admission Appeals will be processed in line with the requirements set out in the School Admissions Appeals Code. Below is a timetable that sets out key dates for the appeals process. Key information has also been provided below that sets out how in-year appeals will be dealt with.
Please ensure that you read this information carefully before lodging your appeal.
Primary Phase Timetable and Deadlines – Primary/Infant/First (Year R Entry), Junior (Year 3 Entry), Middle (Year 5 Entry)
Offer letters posted to parents and carers on National Offer Day by Local Authority | 16 April 2025 |
Deadline for acceptance of the offer by parents and carers | 1 May 2025 |
Deadline for lodging an on-time admission appeal | 16 May 2025 |
Appealing hearing dates | June and July 2025 |
PLEASE NOTE:
Late appeals and in-year appeals will be heard in line with the deadlines set out in the School Admission Appeals Code.
In-year Applications are when you wish to move your child from one school to another part way through their time at a school.
Together with other schools in Dorset, and in accordance with statutory requirements, Ferndown First School has agreed to join the Local Authority’s co-ordinated admissions scheme for the entry admission and transfer process. Therefore, the in-year application and allocation process will be handled by the Local Authority.
Full details of the application process and the application form, can be found on the Dorset website on the link below.
Details of the application process for appeals can be found by clicking the following link:
https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/appeal-a-school-admission-decision-1
For a parent to submit an appeal to the Local Authority | At least 20 schools days from the parent receiving notice of the refusal of a school place |
Notice of the appeal hearing | At least 10 school days before the appeal hearing |
Appellants (usually the parents) to submit evidence | 8 school days before the appeal hearing |
Admissions Authority (the school) to submit their evidence | 8 school days before the appeal hearing |
The clerk (person organizing the appeal) sends appeal papers to the parents, the panel and the school | 5 school days before the appeal hearing |
Additional evidence from the appellants: sometimes the appellants want to provide additional information after seeing all the papers | 5 school days before the appeal hearing |
Decision letters sent to the appellants: this is the letter that tells the appellant if their appeal has been upheld or refused | Within 5 school days of the hearing (wherever possible) |