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The Ferns Primary Academy

 

Contact Details

Address:
 Plodder Lane
 Farnworth
 Bolton
 Lancashire BL4 0DA
Telephone: 01204 471277

School Type

Phase: Primary (ages 3-11)
Type: Sponsor-Led Academy
Religious Denomination: None
Admissions Policy: Non-selective
Established: 2012
History: This school arose from Plodder Lane Primary School
Trust: Northern Education Trust
Sponsor: Northern Education Trust

Staff and Pupils

Principal: Mrs Sarah Hambley (since September 2025)
Previous Headteacher: Keith Jones
Numbers of Teachers / Assistants*: 17.8 / 9.1
Non-teaching Staff*: 18.67
Number of pupils: 445
Pupils Per Teacher: 25.0
Sex: Mixed (51% boys / 49% girls)
Eligible for free school meals (FSM): 32.00% (medium)
FSM pupils at 10 nearest schools†: 34.1%
Local child deprivation rate: 32.2% (2km radius)
Proportion of ethnic minority pupils: 53.5%
Ethnic minority pupils at 10 nearest schools†: 58.4%
Distance to 10th nearest school†: 1.5km
* Full-time equivalents (FTEs)
† Schools of the same phase (primary or secondary) for which data are available

Location and Administration

Region: North West
Authority: Bolton
Constituency: Bolton South East
Electoral Ward: Farnworth North
School Number: 3502001

Inspections and Reports

Ofsted Report: 6th January 2026 (view record)
Ofsted Rating: Good

External Links

DfE Record: View record
School Performance Table: View record
The Schools Guide: School indicators | Staff indicators
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Nearby Schools

  1. Harper Green School (0.1km) show on map
  2. Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School (0.4km) show on map
  3. Queensbridge Primary School (0.5km) show on map
  4. St James's Church of England High School (0.6km) show on map
  5. Highfield Primary School (0.6km) show on map
  6. St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth (0.7km) show on map
  7. Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy (1.0km) show on map
  8. All Saints CofE Primary School (1.1km) show on map
  9. St Peter's CofE Primary School (1.3km) show on map
  10. St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great Lever (1.3km) show on map
  11. St Gregory's RC Primary School, A Voluntary A... (1.4km) show on map
  12. The Orchards Nursery School (1.4km) show on map
  13. Cherry Tree Primary School (1.4km) show on map
  14. Green Fold School (1.4km) show on map
  15. Lord's School (1.5km) show on map
  16. Ss Simon & Jude CofE Primary School, Bolton (1.5km) show on map
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  18. Dukesgate Academy (1.6km) show on map
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  23. St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School (1.9km) show on map
  24. Birtenshaw College (1.9km) show on map
  25. Bolton Islamic Girls School (1.9km) show on map
  26. Kearsley Academy (2.0km) show on map
  27. Lever Edge Primary Academy (2.0km) show on map
  28. St Paul's Peel CofE Primary School (2.1km) show on map
  29. King's Leadership Academy Bolton (2.2km) show on map
  30. Bridgewater Primary School (2.2km) show on map
  31. Wharton Primary School (2.2km) show on map
  32. Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School (2.2km) show on map
  33. Bowness Primary School (2.3km) show on map
  34. Little Lever School (2.3km) show on map
  35. Woodbridge College (2.4km) show on map
  36. St Edmund's RC Primary School (2.5km) show on map
  37. Essa Academy (2.5km) show on map
  38. Essa Primary Academy (2.5km) show on map
  39. Clarendon Primary School (2.5km) show on map
  40. Thomasson Memorial School (2.5km) show on map
  41. Star Salford Academy (2.5km) show on map
  42. St Teresa's RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy (2.6km) show on map
  43. St Andrew's Methodist Primary School (2.6km) show on map
  44. Prestolee Primary School (2.7km) show on map
  45. Bolton Muslim Girls School (2.7km) show on map
  46. Peel Hall Primary School (2.7km) show on map
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  49. St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever (2.8km) show on map
  50. Hilton Lane Primary School (2.8km) show on map
  51. Sunning Hill Primary School (2.8km) show on map
  52. St Bede Academy (2.8km) show on map
  53. St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School a Volu... (2.9km) show on map
  54. St Stephen's CofE Primary School (2.9km) show on map
  55. The Lowry Academy (2.9km) show on map
  56. St Paul's CofE Primary School (2.9km) show on map
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  59. Brandwood Primary School (3.2km) show on map
  60. Bolton Sixth Form College (3.2km) show on map
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  63. SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary School (3.4km) show on map
  64. Christ The King RC Primary School (3.4km) show on map
  65. Heathfield Primary School (3.5km) show on map
  66. St Paul's CofE Primary School (3.5km) show on map
  67. Masefield Primary School (3.5km) show on map
  68. Ladywood School (3.5km) show on map
  69. Pikes Lane Primary School (3.5km) show on map
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  74. Al Jamiah Al Islamiyyah (3.6km) show on map
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  77. St Saviour CofE Primary School, Ringley (3.8km) show on map
  78. Gilnow Primary School (3.9km) show on map
  79. Forwards Centre (3.9km) show on map
  80. Breightmet School (3.9km) show on map
  81. James Brindley Community Primary School (4.0km) show on map
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  92. Bolton School Girls' Division (4.4km) show on map
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Note: If school locations don't appear on the map then try zooming out

Associated Schools

Predecessor Schools†
† Establishments now closed from which this school arose, or with which it has merged

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* Based on pupil profiles – see About page for details

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