Fairfields School, Northampton
Fairfields School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Northampton. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Fairfields School in detail
Fairfields School in its own words
In its own words: "Fairfields is a primary special school for children between the ages of 4 and 11 with severe or profound learning difficulties, communication and physical difficulties. We also cater for pupils on the autistic spectrum. Some children may also have multi-sensory impairment and complex medical difficulties. The school is situated in large well maintained grounds close to the centre of Northampton."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Fairfields School are Cambian Northampton School (0.6 miles, Good); Northgate School Academy Trust (0.6 miles, Outstanding); Hampton Bridge School (0.6 miles); and Purple Oaks Academy (0.9 miles, Good).
Cambian Northampton SchoolNorthgate School Academy TrustHampton Bridge SchoolPurple Oaks Academy
Who goes there
31.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 15.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Fairfields School has an education, health and care plan (124 of 124 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Fairfields School provides for pupils with visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Northampton Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Murray Avenue (adjacent), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 734 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in West Northamptonshire (90), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Fairfields School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from March 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its March 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
31.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Vision, Hearing, Speech and language +5
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Fairfields School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Fairfields School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Fairfields School is in West Northamptonshire; for families living there:
- West Northamptonshire's school travel policy: Free school travel assistance (4-to-16 year olds)
- How to apply: Apply for free school travel assistance (4-to-16 year olds)
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 41
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 41 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 35 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise.
8 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 West Northamptonshire is 7 (the median across 208 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
108%
Over capacity
124 pupils
115 places
9 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Northampton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Northampton
Across West Northamptonshire council
Places available
5,019
Applications
4,602
Got 1st preference
75.8%
Got preferred school
95.7%
All secondary applications across West Northamptonshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
124
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Fairfields School provides for pupils with visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
124
Total Pupils
75
Boys
49
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
5.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,754
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.7%
Overall absence
49.1%
Persistent absence
112
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about Fairfields School
What are SATs results like at Fairfields School?
Of the pupils at Fairfields School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Fairfields School's Ofsted rating?
Fairfields School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Fairfields School?
No fixed boundary. When Fairfields School is oversubscribed, West Northamptonshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Fairfields School?
Fairfields School has around 124 pupils on roll. 32% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Fairfields School have specialist SEN provision?
Fairfields School provides for pupils with visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Fairfields School?
13.7% of sessions were missed at Fairfields School in 2024/25. 49.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Fairfields School?
Apply through West Northamptonshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Fairfields 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 Fairfields School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 41 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 35 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise. 8 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 West Northamptonshire is 7 (the median across 208 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Fairfields School?
Fairfields School is at Trinity Avenue, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN2 6JN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)