Fairfield High School for Girls is a mainstream secondary school in Manchester, Tameside, for girls aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 101 of its 986 pupils (10.2%) were getting SEN support and 25 (2.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 986 pupils
- Girls only
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Tameside.
10.2% get SEN support
101 of 986 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.5% have an EHC plan
25 of 986 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health33
- Moderate learning difficulty23
- Speech, language and communication17
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia10
- Hearing impairment10
- Autism6
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Girls only
- Pupils
- 986 (places for 975)
- Headteacher
- Miss Fiona Lealman
- Part of
- Stamford Park Trust
- Free school meals
- 37.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Tameside
- School reference (URN)
- 136593
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Tameside council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, December 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in December 2022.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Fairfield Avenue, Droylsden, Manchester, M43 6AB
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Hanthorn House School Independent · Ages 11–16 0.5 miles
- St Stephen's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Greenside Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Bridge College Independent · Ages 16–25 1.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Fairfield Road Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.8%, EHC plans 3.9% 0.1 miles
- St Anne's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.2%, EHC plans 4.3% 0.3 miles
- St Mary's CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.2%, EHC plans 1.7% 0.5 miles
Questions about Fairfield High School for Girls
How many pupils at Fairfield High School for Girls have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 101 of the 986 pupils (10.2%) were getting SEN support and 25 (2.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Fairfield High School for Girls?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (33 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (23 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (17 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Fairfield High School for Girls?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Fairfield High School for Girls?
Through Tameside council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Fairfield High School for Girls?
You can ask for Fairfield High School for Girls to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Fairfield High School for Girls have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is St Stephen's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is Fairfield High School for Girls?
Fairfield Avenue, Droylsden, Manchester, M43 6AB, in Tameside.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.