Highfurlong School, Blackpool
Highfurlong School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Blackpool, part of Synergy Education Trust Limited.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Highfurlong School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Highfurlong School are Norman House Independent School (0.2 miles); Brookfield School (1.8 miles, Good); Woodlands School (1.8 miles, Good); and Park Community Academy (1.9 miles, Outstanding).
Norman House Independent SchoolBrookfield SchoolWoodlands SchoolPark Community Academy
The trust
Highfurlong School is one of 7 schools run by Synergy Education Trust Limited, an academy trust.
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, including 29% to a further education college.
Who goes there
58.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 6.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Highfurlong School has an education, health and care plan (145 of 146 in 2026). The most common need among them is a physical disability.
Highfurlong School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Layton (Lancs) Rail Station, about 970 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Aspire Academy (outside), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 195 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Blackpool (336).
Suspensions and exclusions
Highfurlong School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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
Highfurlong School has not been inspected by Ofsted since it took its current form in April 2024. Before that, as Highfurlong School (URN 119868), it was rated Outstanding in April 2014.
At a Glance
58.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +7
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Highfurlong School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Highfurlong School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Highfurlong School is in Blackpool; for families living there:
Apply to Blackpool for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 7 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 Blackpool is 39 (the median across 51 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
112%
Over capacity
146 pupils
130 places
16 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Blackpool
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Blackpool
Across Blackpool council
Places available
1,545
Applications
1,503
Got 1st preference
84.9%
Got preferred school
94.7%
All secondary applications across Blackpool council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
145
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Highfurlong School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
146
Total Pupils
92
Boys
54
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
8.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,384
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
15.0%
Overall absence
44.0%
Persistent absence
109
Enrolments
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
Highfurlong School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Highfurlong School
What are SATs results like at Highfurlong School?
Of the pupils at Highfurlong School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Highfurlong School's Ofsted rating?
Highfurlong School has not been inspected by Ofsted since it took its current form in April 2024. Before that, as Highfurlong School (URN 119868), it was rated Outstanding in April 2014.
What is the catchment area for Highfurlong School?
No fixed boundary. When Highfurlong School is oversubscribed, Blackpool allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Highfurlong School?
Highfurlong School has around 146 pupils on roll. 59% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Highfurlong School have specialist SEN provision?
Highfurlong School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Highfurlong School?
15% of sessions were missed at Highfurlong School in 2024/25. 44% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Highfurlong School?
Apply through Blackpool's coordinated admissions process, naming Highfurlong 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 Highfurlong School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 7 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Blackpool is 39 (the median across 51 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Highfurlong School?
Highfurlong School is at Blackpool Old Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY3 7LS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)