Kingfisher Special School, Oldham
Kingfisher Special School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Oldham, part of Kingfisher Learning Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Kingfisher Special School in detail
Kingfisher Special School in its own words
In its own words: "At Kingfisher, we pride ourselves on our individual and creative approach to planning each child’s learning pathway. We adjust the curriculum and our teaching and learning strategies to meet the needs of every child rather than expecting the children to fit a standard curriculum model."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include yoga and orchestra.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Kingfisher Special School are Chances Mentoring (under 0.1 miles), Halcyon Way School (under 0.1 miles), Thornycroft School (1.1 miles) and Path 4 (1.3 miles).
The trust
Kingfisher Special School is one of 7 schools run by Kingfisher Learning Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Kingfisher Special School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (67%).
Who goes there
54.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 42.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (42%), White British (38%) and Black (10%).
Almost every pupil at Kingfisher Special School has an education, health and care plan (217 of 218 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is South Chadderton (Manchester Metrolink), about 810 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Sportsman, 90 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Kingfisher Special 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); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from December 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Kingfisher Special School is an incredibly ambitious school that helps all pupils achieve from their individual starting points. Staff are experts at understanding each child's needs and removing barriers to learning, creating a peaceful, respectful environment where pupils thrive. Parents and carers hold the school in extremely high regard, and the school works hard to prepare pupils for adult life through real-world learning experiences.
Key Strengths
- Expert staff who use individualised approaches to support pupils' behaviour and learning
- Carefully designed curriculum that meets targets in pupils' education, health and care plans with meticulous focus on each pupil's needs
- Strong emphasis on developing pupils' communication skills and confidence
- Well-considered personal development programme covering life skills, online safety and healthy eating
- High expectations for attendance with demonstrable improvements over time
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with school leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Visits from fire brigade and local police officers, visits to local park and supermarket
Kingfisher Special School provides an inspirational, safe and nurturing environment where pupils with complex special educational needs and disabilities flourish and make striking progress from their individual starting points. The school has effectively maintained its outstanding standards since the previous inspection.
At a Glance
54.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
12 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 Kingfisher Special School
Executive Head’s Newsletter - Summer 2 2026
23 Jul 2026
Executive Head’s Newsletter - Summer 1 2026
22 May 2026
Jim McMahon OBE MP shares his thoughts on the Kingfisher Learning Trust’s Festival of Learning!
2 May 2026
Executive Head’s Newsletter - Spring 2 2026
27 Mar 2026
Executive Head’s Newsletter - Spring 1 2026
13 Feb 2026
Executive Head’s Newsletter - Autumn 2 2025
19 Dec 2025
From Kingfisher Special School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Kingfisher Special School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Kingfisher Special School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Kingfisher Special School is in Oldham; for families living there:
Apply to Oldham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 12
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 Oldham is 14 (the median across 129 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
89%
Available places
218 pupils
246 places
28 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Oldham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Oldham
Across Oldham council
Places available
4,034
Applications
3,190
Got 1st preference
75.2%
Got preferred school
95.4%
All secondary applications across Oldham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
217
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
218
Total Pupils
163
Boys
55
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
10.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,739
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.7%
Overall absence
31.3%
Persistent absence
182
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Kingfisher Special School
Questions parents ask about Kingfisher Special School
What are SATs results like at Kingfisher Special School?
Of the pupils at Kingfisher Special School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Kingfisher Special School's Ofsted rating?
Kingfisher Special School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Kingfisher Special School?
No fixed boundary. When Kingfisher Special School is oversubscribed, Oldham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Kingfisher Special School?
Kingfisher Special School has around 218 pupils on roll. 55% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Kingfisher Special School?
8.7% of sessions were missed at Kingfisher Special School in 2024/25. 31.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Kingfisher Special School?
Apply through Oldham's coordinated admissions process, naming Kingfisher Special 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 Kingfisher Special School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Oldham is 14 (the median across 129 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Kingfisher Special School?
Kingfisher Special School is at Foxdenton Lane, Chadderton, Oldham, Lancashire, OL9 9QR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)