Fountaindale School

Fountaindale School is a kind, caring and aspirational special school for pupils aged 3 to 18 with severe and profound learning difficulties, autism and complex medical needs. In this first inspection, leaders have built an ambitious curriculum organised around three pathways and tailored to EHC plans, with strong therapy input and close work with families and health professionals. Pupils feel safe, happy and proud, and they achieve well in the context of their SEND. The school's communication work is a particular strength, supported by varied systems and skilled reading and phonics teaching. Behaviour is positive and personal development is well promoted through rights-respecting work, pupil voice, clubs and careers opportunities from early years to sixth form. The trust provides effective support and challenge, and staff feel valued. However, practice is not consistently strong enough. Some classroom activities do not engage pupils fully, and some staff lack the expertise to meet complex or new pupils' needs, which creates inconsistencies and affects staff wellbeing. Leaders' self-evaluation does not yet use outcomes trends well enough to judge the impact of their work precisely.

Strengths

• Provides a kind, caring and respectful environment for pupils
• Has high aspirations for pupils and works closely with parents, carers and health professionals
• Delivers an ambitious curriculum through well-designed pathways tailored to pupils' EHC plans
• Supports pupils' health needs well through expert therapists
• Tracks EHC plan targets carefully and provides swift additional support
• Develops communication effectively through varied, pupil-specific systems
• Teaches reading and phonics skilfully, building enjoyment and ability
• Creates positive behaviour routines and supports pupils to communicate their needs
• Promotes personal development well, including through the UNICEF Rights Respecting School Award
• Gives pupils a meaningful voice through the pupil parliament
• Offers well-attended clubs and enterprise activities
• Provides strong careers and work-related opportunities for secondary and sixth-form pupils
• Benefits from effective trust and academy council support and challenge
• Considers staff workload and provides appropriate training and support

Areas for Improvement

• Some classroom activities do not engage pupils well enough, leading to disengagement
• Some staff do not make the best use of learning time, so pupils do not achieve as well as they could
• Some staff lack the knowledge and skills to support pupils with complex or new needs
• Inconsistencies in provision affect some pupils and the wellbeing of some staff
• The school does not always analyse outcomes trends well enough to evaluate the impact of its work

In 2024–25 pupils at Fountaindale School attended 85.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 58.1% 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 Fountaindale 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 Fountaindale School had 6.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.1% 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 Fountaindale School had 95 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: physical 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 Fountaindale School received £41,435 and spent £40,331 for each of its 92 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £456,000 (£4,962 per pupil).

Across all 18 schools of Nexus Multi Academy Trust, income was £26,093 and spending £25,319 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 Mansfield · Nottinghamshire local authority: places and applications

Fountaindale School is part of Nexus Multi Academy Trust, which runs 22 schools. The nearest others:

• The Beech Academy Mansfield
• Endeavour Academy Nottingham
• Stubbin Wood School Shirebrook
• Kingfisher Academy Sheffield
• The Willows School Rotherham
• Discovery Academy Sheffield
• Willow Park School Sheffield
• Seven Hills School Sheffield
• Crags Community School Rotherham
• Kenwood Academy Sheffield

What is Fountaindale School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Fountaindale School is Good, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was Fountaindale School last inspected by Ofsted?

Fountaindale School was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does Fountaindale School have?

Fountaindale School has 95 pupils on roll.

What age range does Fountaindale School cover?

Fountaindale School for pupils aged 3 to 18.

What are Fountaindale School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Fountaindale School?

Fountaindale School is at Nottingham Road, Mansfield, NG18 5BA.