Harlow Fields School and College, Harlow
Harlow Fields School and College is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Harlow. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2026 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Harlow Fields School and College in detail
Harlow Fields School and College in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a warm, inclusive and aspirational special school and college for children and young people aged 3 to 19 with a range of complex needs, including severe learning difficulties, autism and physical or sensory needs."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include Lego and film.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Harlow Fields School and College are The Greenwell Academy (0.7 miles); The Tower School (4.4 miles, selective); and Amwell View School (4.8 miles, Outstanding).
What parents say
49 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Harlow Fields School and College (as of September 2025): 43% would recommend the school, 57% say their child is happy there and 38% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (65%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (29%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 7 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
32.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 13.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Harlow Fields School and College has an education, health and care plan (213 of 213 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Harlow Fields School and College provides for pupils with autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Harlow Town Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Salvation Army (outside), 310 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 497 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Harlow Fields School and College issued 11 suspensions, 6.2 for every 100 pupils, and 1 permanent exclusion.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 agoThis judgement is from October 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school has made significant progress under new leadership, with a comprehensive curriculum redesign that meets each child's individual needs and ambitions. Staff receive excellent professional development including medical and therapeutic training to safely support pupils' complex needs. The school has strong systems in place for safeguarding, behaviour support and attendance, with behaviour records showing that restrictive practices are used appropriately and safely.
Key Strengths
- New leadership team has improved capacity and made effective changes to provision and curriculum
- Safeguarding standards are met with an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed
- Personalised curriculum closely aligned to pupils' individual learning targets and education, health and care plans
- Staff receiving appropriate professional development including medical and therapeutic training
- Behaviour systems improved through therapeutic approaches and de-escalation strategies
Areas for Improvement
- New systems and approaches need to be embedded securely and implemented consistently across the school
- Communication strategies and use of low- and high-tech communication systems not yet consistently applied
- Assessment processes need further refinement so staff can identify and address gaps in learning more precisely
- Unqualified teachers at different stages of development require continued support
- Limited availability of therapeutic support restricts how well staff can fully embed learned strategies
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders and governors have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed.
Harlow Fields School and College is a specialist school for pupils with moderate to severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Leadership has stabilized following new senior appointments, and the school has made significant improvements to safeguarding, curriculum, attendance and behaviour systems.
At a Glance
32.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism, MLD, SLD +1
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
49 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 Harlow Fields School and College
Newsletter 1st May
11 May 2026
Newsletter 17th April
17 Apr 2026
Newsletter 27th March
27 Mar 2026
Newsletter 6th March
6 Mar 2026
Newsletter 13th February
13 Feb 2026
Newsletter 30th January
30 Jan 2026
From Harlow Fields School and College's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Harlow Fields School and College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Harlow Fields School and College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Harlow Fields School and College is in Essex; for families living there:
- Essex's school travel policy: Education Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 4 serious and 6 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
2 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 Essex is 9 (the median across 614 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
99%
Near capacity
213 pupils
214 places
1 spare place
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Harlow
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Harlow
Across Essex council
Places available
17,590
Applications
16,568
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(10)
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
213
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Harlow Fields School and College provides for pupils with autism, moderate learning difficulties, 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
213
Total Pupils
155
Boys
58
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
23
Teachers
9.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,291
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
14.7%
Overall absence
45.3%
Persistent absence
150
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
Harlow Fields School and College
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Harlow Fields School and College
What are SATs results like at Harlow Fields School and College?
Of the pupils at Harlow Fields School and College who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Harlow Fields School and College's Ofsted rating?
Harlow Fields School and College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Harlow Fields School and College?
No fixed boundary. When Harlow Fields School and College is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Harlow Fields School and College?
Harlow Fields School and College has around 213 pupils on roll. 33% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Harlow Fields School and College have specialist SEN provision?
Harlow Fields School and College provides for pupils with autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Harlow Fields School and College?
14.7% of sessions were missed at Harlow Fields School and College in 2024/25. 45.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Harlow Fields School and College?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Harlow Fields School and College 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 Harlow Fields School and College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 4 serious and 6 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 2 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 Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Harlow Fields School and College?
Harlow Fields School and College is at Tendring Road, Harlow, Essex, CM18 6RN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)