Fountaindale School, Mansfield
Fountaindale School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Mansfield, part of Nexus Multi Academy Trust.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Fountaindale School in detail
Fountaindale School in its own words
In its own words: "Fountaindale is a school for children and young people who are 3 to 18 years old who have profound and multiple learning needs, complex physical and medical needs and sensory needs. At Fountaindale we are passionate that every day matters for children and have our children and families at the heart of everything we do."
From the headteacher's welcome: "This afternoon, we'll be celebrating our Rights Respecting Gold Award with a very special Gold Party! Pupils will be taking part in a range of gold-themed activities, including decorating cakes and biscuits, creating artwork, enjoying dance sessions, and joining in with our gold-themed karaoke."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Fountaindale School are Portland College (0.2 miles, Outstanding); Pollyteach Limited (0.3 miles, Good); Bracken Hill School (2.2 miles); and Dawn House School (2.6 miles, Outstanding).
Portland CollegePollyteach LimitedBracken Hill SchoolDawn House School
The trust
Fountaindale School is one of 23 schools run by Nexus Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Fountaindale School (as of September 2025): 84% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Who goes there
45.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (80%), Mixed (8%) and Black (6%).
Almost every pupil at Fountaindale School has an education, health and care plan (95 of 95 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Mansfield Rail Station, about 2.6 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Portland College (opposite), 180 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Fountaindale School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 7 crimes within a mile of the school, most often criminal damage and arson, violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Nottinghamshire (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
Fountaindale School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Fountaindale School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2022. Before that, as Harlow Academy (URN 148530), it was rated Inadequate in January 2022.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Fountaindale creates a supportive and inclusive environment where pupils with complex needs thrive. The school excels at developing communication skills and building pupils' confidence and independence through tailored support from skilled staff and specialist professionals. Pupils are encouraged to celebrate achievements, explore the world around them through sensory learning, and have a genuine voice in school decisions.
Key Strengths
- Ambitious, well-designed curriculum with three tailored pathways that meet individual pupil needs
- Strong development of communication skills with varied systems tailored to each pupil, giving pupils a voice and building confidence
- Highly skilled and caring staff team supported by expert professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists
- Excellent promotion of personal development, with pupil parliament and achievement of UNICEF Rights Respecting School Award
- Strong early reading and phonics programme delivered skilfully to increase pupils' enjoyment of books
Areas for Improvement
- Some classroom activities do not engage pupils well enough, causing them to disengage from learning
- Staff inconsistencies in meeting complex needs of new pupils, impacting both pupil outcomes and staff well-being
- School does not evaluate trends and patterns in pupil outcomes effectively enough to fully assess the impact of its work
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Inclusive choir, pupil parliament, enterprise activities with craft production for Christmas and summer fairs, woodland walks and wildlife exploration
Fountaindale School is a special school for pupils aged 3-18 with severe learning difficulties and complex needs. The school provides a kind and caring environment where pupils achieve well and are happy to attend.
At a Glance
45.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
32 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Fountaindale School
2.10.26 - Headteachers message to families
2 Oct 2026
25.9.26 - Headteachers message to families
25 Sep 2026
18.9.26 - Headteachers message to families
17 Sep 2026
11.9.26 - Headteachers message to families
11 Sep 2026
4.9.26 - Headteachers message to families
3 Sep 2026
Fountaindale Celebrates Gold: Rights Respecting School Award
26 Aug 2026
From Fountaindale School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Fountaindale School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Fountaindale School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Fountaindale School is in Nottinghamshire; for families living there:
- Nottinghamshire's school travel policy: Under 16 Transport Policy 2026-2027
- How to apply: Apply for under 16 travel assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
3 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 Nottinghamshire is 10 (the median across 370 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
95 pupils
84 places
11 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Mansfield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Mansfield
Across Nottinghamshire council
Places available
9,842
Applications
9,200
Got 1st preference
92.5%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across Nottinghamshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
95
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
95
Total Pupils
57
Boys
38
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
5.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,677
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
14.8%
Overall absence
58.1%
Persistent absence
86
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 Fountaindale School
What are SATs results like at Fountaindale School?
Of the pupils at Fountaindale School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Fountaindale School's Ofsted rating?
Fountaindale School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2022. Before that, as Harlow Academy (URN 148530), it was rated Inadequate in January 2022.
What is the catchment area for Fountaindale School?
No fixed boundary. When Fountaindale School is oversubscribed, Nottinghamshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Fountaindale School?
Fountaindale School has around 95 pupils on roll. 45% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Fountaindale School?
14.8% of sessions were missed at Fountaindale School in 2024/25. 58.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Fountaindale School?
Apply through Nottinghamshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Fountaindale 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 Fountaindale School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 3 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 Nottinghamshire is 10 (the median across 370 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Fountaindale School?
Fountaindale School is at Nottingham Road, Mansfield, NG18 5BA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)