Newfield School, Blackburn
Newfield School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Blackburn. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2021. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2021)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Newfield School in detail
Newfield School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Here you will find a wealth of general information that is relevent to all areas of school. Here at Newfield we provide high quality specialist education for children and young people aged 2 - 19 years."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Newfield School are Eden School (2 miles, Good); Oswaldtwistle White Ash School (2 miles, Outstanding); Crosshill Special School (2.6 miles, Good); and The Willows (2.7 miles, Good).
Eden SchoolOswaldtwistle White Ash SchoolCrosshill Special SchoolThe Willows
What parents say
33 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Newfield School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 91% 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 (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 8 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
44.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 28.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (55%) and White British (37%).
Almost every pupil at Newfield School has an education, health and care plan (242 of 242 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Newfield School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Blackburn Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sett End (by), 180 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Newfield School issued 1 suspension, 0.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Newfield School excels at making every child feel valued and known as an individual. Staff are highly trained to support each pupil's specific needs using sensory and therapeutic approaches that help children learn calmly and confidently. The school provides a rich curriculum that builds knowledge carefully from early years through to sixth form, combined with wonderful enrichment activities like theatre performances, swimming, and residential trips that broaden pupils' horizons.
Key Strengths
- Strong, caring relationships between staff and pupils that help them feel safe and happy
- Highly personalised curriculum with clear building blocks of knowledge sequenced from early years to sixth form
- Excellent focus on reading, language and communication skills using a range of strategies
- Effective use of sensory and therapeutic approaches to help pupils regulate their behaviour
- Well-planned personal development and enrichment opportunities that prepare pupils for adult life
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects, the learning activities chosen by staff are not always the most effective for helping pupils understand new concepts, particularly in the sixth form
- Early years indoor and outdoor spaces are not used thoughtfully enough to support play-based learning and develop children's curiosity
- Variable quality of opportunities for early years children to apply their learning in different contexts
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong processes in place to identify and support pupils' needs.
Extracurricular Activities
Theatre production performances, swimming pool visits, bowling competition, residential trips to Lake District, fire station visits, Christmas market stall, switch training, cooking skills, work-related learning, independent living activities, careers programme
Newfield School is a welcoming special school where pupils with complex needs are known and celebrated as individuals. The school has significantly improved since its previous inspection, with strong relationships, effective use of therapeutic approaches, and a personalised curriculum that helps all pupils make good progress.
At a Glance
44.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Hearing +7
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
33 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
Social & online
Keep up with Newfield School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Newfield School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Newfield School is in Blackburn with Darwen; for families living there:
Apply to Blackburn with Darwen for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 18
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 11 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
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 Blackburn with Darwen is 24 (the median across 89 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
127%
Over capacity
242 pupils
190 places
52 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Blackburn
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Blackburn
Across Blackburn with Darwen council
Places available
2,284
Applications
2,116
Got 1st preference
78.9%
Got preferred school
94.1%
All secondary applications across Blackburn with Darwen council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
242
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Newfield School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, 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
242
Total Pupils
176
Boys
66
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
34
Teachers
7.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,101
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.7%
Overall absence
34.5%
Persistent absence
200
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
Newfield School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Newfield School
What are SATs results like at Newfield School?
Of the pupils at Newfield School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Newfield School's Ofsted rating?
Newfield School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2021, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Newfield School?
No fixed boundary. When Newfield School is oversubscribed, Blackburn with Darwen allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Newfield School?
Newfield School has around 242 pupils on roll. 45% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Newfield School have specialist SEN provision?
Newfield School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Newfield School?
10.7% of sessions were missed at Newfield School in 2024/25. 34.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Newfield School?
Apply through Blackburn with Darwen's coordinated admissions process, naming Newfield 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 Newfield School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 11 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 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 Blackburn with Darwen is 24 (the median across 89 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Newfield School?
Newfield School is at Old Bank Lane, Off Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 2PW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)