Brookfield School, Poulton-le-Fylde
Brookfield School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Poulton-le-Fylde. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, ended in a report card: 6 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2022.
- Ofsted report card
- 0 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Brookfield School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades Brookfield School on 6 areas: 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Expected standard. "Many pupils have experienced disrupted education prior to joining this school."
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders know the barriers to attendance that each pupil faces."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum is personalised to meet the complex needs of each pupil."
Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors place pupils at the centre of their decision-making."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, together with governors and staff, are passionately committed to the success of every pupil."
Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils' wider development is central to the ethos of the school."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to strengthen the consistency of teaching, including to deepen pupils' knowledge and ensure that they address any misconceptions"; "Leaders should build on their current strategies to continue to improve the attendance of all pupils and groups"; "Leaders and governors should develop more strategic use of the information they gather about the pupil premium funding in order to evaluate its impact on the attendance of disadvantaged pupils".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Brookfield School in its own words
In its own words: "Brookfield School aims to provide each pupil with the necessary support, intervention and opportunity to meet their learning, pastoral and social needs alongside future destinations and career aspirations. We also work closely with previous schools, families and supporting agencies to provide the very best level of support for each pupil."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cricket, cross-country and cooking.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Brookfield School are Highfurlong School (1.8 miles); Norman House Independent School (1.8 miles); Great Arley School (2.1 miles, Good); and Thornton-Cleveleys Red Marsh School (2.2 miles, Outstanding).
Highfurlong SchoolNorman House Independent SchoolGreat Arley SchoolThornton-Cleveleys Red Marsh School
Where pupils go next
Of the 17 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 53% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 24% to a further education college.
Who goes there
53.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Brookfield School has an education, health and care plan (93 of 93 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Brookfield School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Poulton-le-Fylde Rail Station, about 780 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Skippool Avenue (opposite), 220 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Brookfield School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Brookfield School issued 22 suspensions, 26.2 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Brookfield School
This school has a nurturing and caring culture that encourages pupils to succeed. Many pupils have had previously disrupted school experiences. They develop warm and trusting relationships with staff. This helps them to feel safe and happy. Pupils are confident that staff would resolve any bullying quickly if it happened. Pupils follow individual programmes that support them to develop socially and emotionally. They make steady academic progress from their starting points. Pupils follow well-established routines. This helps them to manage their emotions and feel more settled. A variety of therapies, including physical activities, music and art promote a sense of calm. Pupils enjoy having breakfast and lunch together with staff. This sets them at ease with each other and fosters a sense of belonging. Pupils are kind and respectful towards each other and staff. They typically behave well and engage in their learning. Pupils' resilience and their rates of attendance improve over time because of the encouragement and skilful care that they receive from dedicated staff. Pupils benefit from a wealth of activities that promote their mental health and wellbeing. These include canoeing, mountain-biking and football. During breaktimes, pupils develop their teamwork and physical skills by playing basketball and cricket together enthusiastically. Pupils' opinions are valued and they have a genuine voice in the school. They have influenced Friday enrichment choices, lunch menus and successfully campaigned for a tuck shop, which has recently opened. School councillors play an active role in decisions about playground equipment. Pupils enjoy taking on responsibilities, such as raising money for charities. Pupils are well prepared for adulthood. They develop important life skills, for example planning visits to places of interest in different parts of the country. This builds their confidence, reduces anxiety and fosters their independence.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should continue to strengthen the consistency of teaching, including to deepen pupils' knowledge and ensure that they address any misconceptions.
- Leaders should build on their current strategies to continue to improve the attendance of all pupils and groups.
- Leaders and governors should develop more strategic use of the information they gather about the pupil premium funding in order to evaluate its impact on the attendance of disadvantaged pupils.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 16 June 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Brookfield School excels at supporting pupils who have struggled in mainstream education, helping them develop confidence and self-belief through caring relationships with staff. The school offers an impressive range of enrichment activities and real work experience opportunities that prepare pupils well for their futures. Pupils benefit from a calm, inclusive environment where their wellbeing is prioritised alongside their learning.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on pupils' social and emotional development with personalised support for each child
- Excellent pastoral care and wellbeing programmes including counselling, therapies and mental health support
- High-quality careers guidance that leads to almost all pupils progressing to appropriate education, employment or training
- Rich enrichment activities including outdoor education, trips and work-related learning
- Skilled staff who build trusting relationships with pupils and help them manage their emotions effectively
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils still have high absence rates despite improvement efforts, meaning they miss vital learning
- Some teachers move on to new work before all pupils are ready, and occasionally provide too much guidance rather than encouraging independence
- Inconsistent delivery of some curricula across the school
- Pupil premium funding has not had sufficient impact on attendance for disadvantaged pupils
- Some pupils would benefit from more opportunities to deepen their knowledge in subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture of safeguarding where concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Canoeing, mountain-biking, football, basketball, cricket, art galleries, castles and museums trips, Houses of Parliament visits, work experience at local football club, farm work, chef training, music, outdoor education
Brookfield School is a nurturing school that supports pupils with previously disrupted education, helping them develop socially, emotionally and academically. The school has created an inclusive culture where pupils build confidence and make steady progress from their individual starting points.
At a Glance
53.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Brookfield School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Brookfield School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Brookfield School is in Lancashire; for families living there:
- Lancashire's school travel policy: school transport policies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 17
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 13 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
96%
Near capacity
93 pupils
97 places
4 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Poulton-le-Fylde
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Poulton-le-Fylde
Across Lancashire council
Places available
14,702
Applications
13,782
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
97.2%
All secondary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(12)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
93
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Brookfield School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
93
Total Pupils
93
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
6.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,721
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
27.4%
Overall absence
59.1%
Persistent absence
88
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Brookfield School
What are GCSE results like at Brookfield School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Brookfield School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 4.3. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Brookfield School's Ofsted rating?
Brookfield School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Brookfield School?
No fixed boundary. When Brookfield School is oversubscribed, Lancashire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Brookfield School?
Brookfield School has around 93 pupils on roll. 54% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Brookfield School have specialist SEN provision?
Brookfield School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Brookfield School?
27.4% of sessions were missed at Brookfield School in 2024/25. 59.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Brookfield School?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming Brookfield School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Brookfield School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 13 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Brookfield School?
Brookfield School is at Fouldrey Avenue, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, FY6 7HE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)