Fern House School, Enfield
Fern House School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in Enfield, part of Connect Education Trust. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, ended in a report card: 2 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2022.
- Ofsted report card
- 2 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Fern House School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades Fern House School on 6 areas: 2 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Inclusion - Strong standard. "The school is committed to providing high-quality, inclusive practice."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders, governors and trustees work tirelessly to put pupils' interests first."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Leaders determine pupils' starting points when they join the school."
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a sense of belonging where pupils feel safe and understood."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an informed understanding of the curriculum they provide, which they continually develop."
Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils follow a well-considered personal development programme."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers check pupils' knowledge with further precision to ensure that all gaps are addressed and pupils are engaged with their learning, apply what they have been taught and deepen their knowledge with growing independence"; "Leaders should strengthen the breadth of qualifications and awards that pupils undertake to widen their choices and better equip them for their next steps".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Fern House School in its own words
In its own words: "We accept our own experiences and how they have shaped us. We accept that others have different perspectives based on their own experiences. We respect other people's right to express their point of view. We are open to feedback and support. We celebrate differences in others. We do the right thing and uphold good morals. We take responsibility for ourselves."
Coming up: an open day on Friday 6 November 2026 and an open day on Friday 4 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Enfield
Vision and values (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Fern House School are Salmons Brook School (0.4 miles); Durants School (0.8 miles, Good); Russet House School (1.2 miles, Good); and Waverley School (1.5 miles, Outstanding).
Salmons Brook SchoolDurants SchoolRusset House SchoolWaverley School
The trust
Fern House School is one of 8 schools run by Connect Education Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 9 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 44% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college.
Who goes there
72.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 11.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (44%), Mixed (23%) and Black (19%).
Almost every pupil at Fern House School has an education, health and care plan (79 of 79 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Enfield Lock Station, about 190 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Malvern Road (EN3) (->w), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Fern House School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Fern House School issued 44 suspensions, 61.1 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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 · 6 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected 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 Fern House School
Pupils are safe and happy at this inclusive school. Many pupils join at different points in their education and they are warmly welcomed. Pupils quickly settle because they enjoy the security and familiarity of the routines the school has put in place. They swiftly build positive working relationships with staff. Pupils know that staff want the best for them and feel nurtured. Consequently, many pupils attend well. Staff take time to understand pupils' interests and needs. As a result, pupils want to meet the expectations set for them. The school is largely calm and orderly. When incidents do arise, they are handled efficiently and with care. Pupils are supported to develop the skills that they need to help them manage their emotions. They are taught to respect one another and treat each other kindly. Bullying and physical incidents are taken seriously by staff and followed up quickly. In class, typically, pupils enjoy their learning and want to do well. Every pupil at the school has special educational needs and/or disabilities and leaders ensure that staff have the information they need about individual pupils. Pupils participate in lessons well as they have the resources they need. Staff recognise any subtle changes in pupils' behaviour and guide them to effective strategies. Pupils progress well from their starting points and work towards the end of key stage 2 national tests and qualifications in English and mathematics when they are older. Leaders are considering how to broaden this offer further. Leaders build positive relationships with parents and carers. They communicate with them often and work with a range of professionals to provide meaningful support for both pupils' learning and wellbeing needs. Pupils enjoy an increasing range of clubs and take part in a variety of sports, including swimming and basketball. They hear from visitors on a variety of topics and celebrate different events. Pupils learn the skills needed to prepare them for adulthood and independence.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that teachers check pupils' knowledge with further precision to ensure that all gaps are addressed and pupils are engaged with their learning, apply what they have been taught and deepen their knowledge with growing independence.
- Leaders should strengthen the breadth of qualifications and awards that pupils undertake to widen their choices and better equip them for their next steps.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 28 April 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Fern House School excels at creating an inclusive, welcoming community where every pupil feels safe, valued and understood. Staff build strong, nurturing relationships with pupils and provide excellent pastoral care including additional therapies like play therapy and music interventions. The school equips pupils with essential life skills for independence, including managing transport, finances and online safety, ensuring they are well-prepared for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Strong inclusive practice with swift identification of pupil needs and collaborative work with experts
- Excellent pastoral care and positive relationships between staff and pupils, creating a safe and nurturing environment
- Comprehensive personal development programme covering life skills, finances, transport and online safety
- High staff morale with valuable professional learning opportunities
- Effective safeguarding with an open culture where concerns are actively managed
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent links made between reading and writing skills, limiting pupils' application of phonics to spelling
- Assessment of pupil understanding in some subjects not always precise enough to deepen knowledge
- Gaps in pupil learning caused by absence are not robustly addressed
- Range of available qualifications and certificates could be broader and more ambitious
- Some pupils could be encouraged to work more independently rather than relying on adult support
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
School council, sustainability team, local area visits, workshops, trips, work experience, careers guidance with employer meetings (construction, army), play therapy, music interventions, speech and language therapy
Fern House School is an inclusive specialist school serving pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and autism spectrum disorder. The school has expanded substantially and demonstrates strong leadership with a committed focus on pupil wellbeing and achievement.
At a Glance
72.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Fern House School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Fern House School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Fern House School is in Enfield; for families living there:
Apply to Enfield for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 38
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 38 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 31 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 6 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
9 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 Enfield is 60 (the median across 108 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
113%
Over capacity
79 pupils
70 places
9 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Enfield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Enfield
Across Enfield council
Places available
4,103
Applications
3,975
Got 1st preference
77.0%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Enfield council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
79
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
79
Total Pupils
58
Boys
21
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
6.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£60,006
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
15.8%
Overall absence
45.5%
Persistent absence
77
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
Fern House School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Fern House School
What are GCSE results like at Fern House School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Fern House School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 2. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Fern House School's Ofsted rating?
Fern House School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 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 Fern House School?
No fixed boundary. When Fern House School is oversubscribed, Enfield allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Fern House School?
Fern House School has around 79 pupils on roll. 72% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Fern House School?
15.8% of sessions were missed at Fern House School in 2024/25. 45.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Fern House School?
Apply through Enfield's coordinated admissions process, naming Fern House 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 Fern House School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 38 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 31 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 6 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 9 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 Enfield is 60 (the median across 108 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Fern House School?
Fern House School is at Keswick Drive, Enfield, EN3 6NY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)