The Schools Guru
The Schools GuruYour personal AI advisor on schools and colleges in EnglandLet's talk 💬

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
The Schools Guru: Let's talk 💬
 
 

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
  17. St John Church of England Primary School, Far... (1.6km) show on map
  18. Dukesgate Academy (1.6km) show on map
  19. Grosvenor Nursery School and Day Care Centre (1.6km) show on map
  20. Kearsley West Primary School (1.8km) show on map
  21. North Walkden Primary School (1.8km) show on map
  22. St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School (1.9km) show on map
  23. Birtenshaw College (1.9km) show on map
  24. Bolton Islamic Girls School (1.9km) show on map
  25. Kearsley Academy (2.0km) show on map
  26. Lever Edge Primary Academy (2.0km) show on map
  27. St Paul's Peel CofE Primary School (2.1km) show on map
  28. King's Leadership Academy Bolton (2.2km) show on map
  29. Bridgewater Primary School (2.2km) show on map
  30. Wharton Primary School (2.2km) show on map
  31. Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School (2.2km) show on map
  32. Bowness Primary School (2.3km) show on map
  33. Little Lever School (2.3km) show on map
  34. Woodbridge College (2.4km) show on map
  35. St Edmund's RC Primary School (2.5km) show on map
  36. Essa Academy (2.5km) show on map
  37. Essa Primary Academy (2.5km) show on map
  38. Clarendon Primary School (2.5km) show on map
  39. Thomasson Memorial School (2.5km) show on map
  40. Star Salford Academy (2.5km) show on map
  41. St Teresa's RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy (2.6km) show on map
  42. St Andrew's Methodist Primary School (2.6km) show on map
  43. Prestolee Primary School (2.7km) show on map
  44. Bolton Muslim Girls School (2.7km) show on map
  45. Peel Hall Primary School (2.7km) show on map
  46. St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School, Leve... (2.7km) show on map
  47. The Olive Tree Primary School Bolton (2.8km) show on map
  48. St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever (2.8km) show on map
  49. Hilton Lane Primary School (2.8km) show on map
  50. Sunning Hill Primary School (2.8km) show on map
  51. St Bede Academy (2.8km) show on map
  52. St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School a Volu... (2.9km) show on map
  53. St Stephen's CofE Primary School (2.9km) show on map
  54. The Lowry Academy (2.9km) show on map
  55. St Paul's CofE Primary School (2.9km) show on map
  56. Bolton Parish Church, Church of England Prima... (3.0km) show on map
  57. Mytham Primary School (3.0km) show on map
  58. Brandwood Primary School (3.2km) show on map
  59. Bolton Sixth Form College (3.2km) show on map
  60. University Collegiate School (3.3km) show on map
  61. Bolton College (3.3km) show on map
  62. SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary School (3.4km) show on map
  63. Christ The King RC Primary School (3.4km) show on map
  64. Heathfield Primary School (3.5km) show on map
  65. St Paul's CofE Primary School (3.5km) show on map
  66. Masefield Primary School (3.5km) show on map
  67. Ladywood School (3.5km) show on map
  68. Pikes Lane Primary School (3.5km) show on map
  69. St Ethelbert's Roman Catholic Primary School,... (3.6km) show on map
  70. Leverhulme Community Primary School (3.6km) show on map
  71. Spindle Point Primary School (3.6km) show on map
  72. Blackshaw Primary School (3.6km) show on map
  73. Al Jamiah Al Islamiyyah (3.6km) show on map
  74. St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton (3.7km) show on map
  75. Haslam Park Primary School (3.7km) show on map
  76. St Saviour CofE Primary School, Ringley (3.8km) show on map
  77. Gilnow Primary School (3.9km) show on map
  78. Forwards Centre (3.9km) show on map
  79. Breightmet School (3.9km) show on map
  80. James Brindley Community Primary School (4.0km) show on map
  81. Mesne Lea Primary School (4.0km) show on map
  82. Moorgate Primary School (4.1km) show on map
  83. Park School Teaching Service (4.1km) show on map
  84. Tonge Moor Primary Academy (4.1km) show on map
  85. Gaskell Community Primary School (4.2km) show on map
  86. St Mary's CofE Primary School, Deane (4.2km) show on map
  87. Co-op Academy Walkden (4.3km) show on map
  88. LifeBridge ASEND (4.4km) show on map
  89. The Olive School, Bolton (4.4km) show on map
  90. Ellenbrook Community Primary School (4.4km) show on map
  91. Bolton School Boys' Division (4.4km) show on map
  92. Bolton School Girls' Division (4.4km) show on map
  93. Bolton School Infant & Nursery School (4.4km) show on map
  94. St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton (4.4km) show on map
  95. Rowan Tree Primary School (4.5km) show on map
  96. Red Lane Primary School (4.6km) show on map
  97. Ladybridge High School (4.6km) show on map
  98. Cams Lane Primary School (4.7km) show on map
  99. St John's CofE Primary School Mosley Common (4.7km) show on map
  100. Rumworth School (4.7km) show on map
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

Similar Schools*

  1. Milwards Primary School and Nursery, Harlow
  2. Old Basford School, Nottingham
  3. St Stephen's Church of England Primary School, Bury
  4. Our Lady and St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School, London
  5. Brompton-Westbrook Primary School, Gillingham
  6. All Faiths Children's Academy, Rochester
  7. Rawmarsh Ashwood Primary School, Rotherham
  8. Redlands Primary and Nursery School, Worksop
  9. Manor Community Primary School, Swanscombe
  10. Thomas Jones Primary School, London
  11. Eldene Nursery and Primary School, Swindon
  12. Shaw Primary Academy, South Ockendon
  13. Woodfield Primary School, Wolverhampton
  14. St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Bloxwich, Walsall
  15. Castleton Primary School, Rochdale
  16. Tany's Dell Primary School and Nursery, Harlow
  17. St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, Carlisle
  18. The Oaks Primary School, Ipswich
  19. Purley Oaks Primary School, South Croydon
  20. Clifton Green Primary School, York
  21. Kingston Park Primary School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
  22. Beeston Primary School, Leeds
  23. Maple Grove Primary School, Hemel Hempstead
  24. St Mary Redcliffe Church of England Primary School, Bristol
  25. Olga Primary School, London
  26. Brockswood Primary School, Hemel Hempstead
  27. Fir Tree Primary School and Nursery, Newbury
  28. St Francis Catholic Primary School, Walsall
  29. Wood End Primary School, Wolverhampton
  30. Harris Primary Academy Benson, Croydon
  31. Mount CofE Primary School, Newark
  32. Culvers House Primary School, Mitcham
  33. St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Kenton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
  34. The Priory CofE School, London
  35. Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, St Helens
  36. Wyndham Spencer Academy, Derby
  37. Woodseats Primary School, Sheffield
  38. Fairfield Road Primary School, Manchester
  39. Avishayes Community Primary School, Chard
  40. James Dixon Primary School, London
  41. Aerodrome Primary Academy, Croydon
  42. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Primary School, Doncaster
  43. Lime Walk Primary School, Hemel Hempstead
  44. Sinclair Primary and Nursery School - Part of the Learning Federa...
  45. Stanley Primary School, Teddington
  46. St Paul's CofE Primary School, Manchester
  47. Rise Park Primary and Nursery School, Nottingham
  48. Oakfield Primary Academy, Dartford
  49. St John's CofE Primary School, Bradford
  50. Margaret Wix Primary School, St Albans
  51. Calshot Primary School, Birmingham
  52. Monks Coppenhall Academy, Crewe
  53. Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, Manchester
  54. Perry Hall Primary School, Wolverhampton
  55. Oasis Academy Pinewood, Romford
  56. St Mary's Church of England Primary Norwood Green, Southall
  57. Beaumont Primary Academy, Huddersfield
  58. Longmeadow Primary School, Stevenage
  59. Olive Hill Primary Academy, Halesowen
  60. Willowbrook School, Exeter
  61. Mead Primary School, Romford
  62. Ashmole Primary School, London
  63. Causeway Green Primary School, Oldbury
  64. St Mary's, Prittlewell, CofE Primary School, Southend-on-Sea
  65. Muschamp Primary School and Language Opportunity Base, Carshalton
  66. St John the Baptist RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, Burnley
  67. Thomas Jolyffe Primary School, Stratford-upon-Avon
  68. St Luke's Church of England Primary School, Bournemouth
  69. Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, St Helens
  70. Waterfield Primary School, Crawley
  71. St Werburgh's Primary School, Bristol
  72. St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Middleton, Manchester
  73. Wistaston Academy, Crewe
  74. Stuart Road Primary Academy, Plymouth
  75. Robin Hood Primary School, Nottingham
  76. Hilltop Primary School, Crawley
  77. St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Cobham
  78. Saint Barnabas Church of England Primary School, Birmingham
  79. Beddington Park Academy, Croydon
  80. St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Carlisle
  81. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, London
  82. Oasis Academy Ryelands, London
  83. Prince Rock Primary School, Plymouth
  84. Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Southend-on-Sea
  85. St Matthew's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, Bradford
  86. Cambridge Road Community Primary and Nursery School, Ellesmere Port
  87. Great Harwood Primary School, Blackburn
  88. Kemsley Primary Academy, Sittingbourne
  89. New Valley Primary School, Purley
  90. Beckfoot Allerton Primary School and Nursery, Bradford
  91. Kingfisher Primary Academy, Doncaster
  92. Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, Taunton
  93. Bowlee Park Community Primary School, Manchester
  94. St John's Primary School, Woking
  95. Elton Community Primary School, Bury
  96. Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery, Loughton
  97. Andover Church of England Primary School
  98. Canterbury Road Primary School, Sittingbourne
  99. James Wolfe Primary School and Centre for the Deaf, London
  100. Elmstead Wood Primary School, London
* Based on pupil profiles – see About page for details

 | Copyright © 2026 |