Mayfield School, Chorley

Ofsted's report card from its 30 June 2026 inspection grades Mayfield School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils' attendance overall is above the national average for similar schools."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "The school's inclusive approach is a golden thread running through all its work."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Leaders recognise that pupils' achievement takes many forms."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a broad and inclusive curriculum that reflects the needs of pupils across the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's context and pupils' needs very well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils' personal development and the pastoral support they receive are at the heart of the school's work."

Post-16 provision - Expected standard. "Post-16 students benefit from a curriculum that covers a suitable range of subjects, with a focus on functional skills, personal development and work-related learning."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should make certain that pupils secure the necessary knowledge and fluency in foundational knowledge in readiness for their next learning steps"; "Leaders should ensure that staff embed the recently implemented curriculums by designing learning in a clear, logical sequence".

In its own words: "Mayfield is a relatively small school, but we pride ourselves on making a big impact on the lives of our children and their families. We consider ourselves one big happy family. We believe what makes us unique is the expert way in which we create a needs-led provision matched to each pupil’s key learning needs."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Mayfield School is at the heart of the local community, providing high-quality education, enriching experiences, and meaningful opportunities for children aged 4-19. As a small special school with just 133 pupils, we take great pride in the big impact we make on the lives of our students and their families."

The nearest other special schools to Mayfield School are Westmorland School (0.1 miles, Good); Chorley Astley Park School (0.9 miles, Outstanding); Mayfield House School (1 mile, Inadequate); and Oliver House School (1.3 miles, Outstanding).

38.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%) and Asian (8%).

Almost every pupil at Mayfield School has an education, health and care plan (133 of 133 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.

Mayfield 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, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

The nearest railway station is Chorley Rail Station, about 1070 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Brindle Street (by), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Mayfield School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 245 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

Mayfield School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.