The Fountains Primary School

The Fountains Primary School is performing well overall, with a 'Good' rating in overall effectiveness and a strong emphasis on supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The school fosters a positive and inclusive environment, where pupils feel valued and cared for. Leaders work collaboratively with parents and the multi-academy trust to ensure a supportive learning atmosphere. Notably, the school has strong strengths in early years provision, personal development, and behavior management, with staff effectively helping pupils to thrive both academically and socially. While the school's leadership is dedicated and strategic, there is an identified area for improvement regarding consistency in implementing communication systems for those pupils who require additional support. Despite this, the school has built a robust foundation for academic achievement, a love of reading, and proactive engagement in the community, positioning itself as a nurturing place for students to grow and learn.

Strengths

• High ambition for all pupils' academic and social achievement
• Outstanding behavior and attitudes among pupils
• Exceptional personal development opportunities
• Strong early years provision that engages children effectively
• Effective collaboration with parents and support services for SEND
• Wide range of extracurricular activities enhancing pupils' experiences
• Proactive measures to ensure pupils' emotional and physical well-being

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent implementation of communication systems for some pupils

In 2024–25 pupils at The Fountains Primary School attended 93.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 22.8% 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, 0.0% of pupils at The Fountains Primary 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 Primary School had 9.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 13.8% 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 Primary School had 206 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 Primary School received £28,139 and spent £25,659 for each of its 204 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £720,000 (£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 Primary School is part of Esteem Multi-Academy Trust, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• The Fountains High 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 Primary School's Ofsted rating?

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

When was The Fountains Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Fountains Primary School was last inspected in November 2023.

How many pupils does The Fountains Primary School have?

The Fountains Primary School has 206 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Fountains Primary School cover?

The Fountains Primary School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are The Fountains Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Fountains Primary School?

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