The Fountains High School

The Fountains High School has received a 'Good' rating in its recent Ofsted inspection, marking its first evaluation since becoming an academy. The school demonstrates strong performance across all key areas, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. Pupils are reported to be happy and well-supported, benefiting from positive relationships with staff, resulting in smooth lesson transitions and a supportive learning environment. A notable strength is the school's commitment to helping pupils, including those with complex needs, develop essential life skills and reading abilities. The school's engagement in community activities and high expectations for pupils' future pathways further highlight its positive impact.

Strengths

• Strong relationships between staff and pupils
• High expectations for pupil achievement
• Effective support for managing emotions and behaviour
• Well-planned career advice and work placements for sixth-form students
• Commitment to developing pupils' communication skills

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent planning and sequencing in some subjects
• Unclear roles and responsibilities among senior leaders
• Governors' limited understanding of school areas for development

In 2024–25 pupils at The Fountains High School attended 89.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 28.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 2.8% of pupils at The Fountains High School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Fountains High School had 7.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 2.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 The Fountains High School had 246 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 The Fountains High School received £20,542 and spent £21,434 for each of its 250 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £882,000 (£3,527 per pupil).

Across all 9 schools of Esteem Multi-Academy Trust, income was £26,475 and spending £26,077 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Burton-On-Trent · Staffordshire local authority: places and applications

The Fountains High School is part of Esteem Multi-Academy Trust, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• The Fountains Primary School Burton-On-Trent
• Elmsleigh Infant & Nursery School Swadlincote
• St Clare's School Derby
• Holbrook School for Autism Belper
• Stanton Vale School Nottingham
• Bennerley Fields School Ilkeston
• Bracken Hill School Nottingham
• Peak School High Peak

What is The Fountains High School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Fountains High School is Good, from an inspection in February 2023.

When was The Fountains High School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Fountains High School was last inspected in February 2023.

How many pupils does The Fountains High School have?

The Fountains High School has 246 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Fountains High School cover?

The Fountains High School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is The Fountains High School?

The Fountains High School is at Bitham Lane, Stretton, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 0HB.