Fern House School

Fern House School
Location
Keswick Drive
Enfield

London
,
EN3 6NY

England

51°40′27″N 0°02′37″W / 51.6742°N 0.0436°W / 51.6742; -0.0436
Information
TypeAcademy special school
Established1969; 57 years ago (1969)
Local authority
London Borough of Enfield
145232 Tables
OfstedReports
Headteacher
Laura Astarita
GenderMixed-sex education
Age5 to 16
EnrolmentAs of 2026: 72
CapacityAs of 2026: 70
Websitewww.fernhouseschool.org

Fern House School, formerly Aylands School, is a mixed-sex special school in Freezywater, Enfield, London, United Kingdom, for children who have social, emotional or mental health difficulties. As of 2026, it has 72 pupils, and accepts children aged 5 to 16. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. The school is an academy, as part of the multi-academy trust Connect Education Trust.

History

The school was established in 1969 as Aylands School.

In 2017 it was inspected by Ofsted, judged inadequate and placed in special measures. The school's previous three inspections, in 2006, 2009 and 2015, had resulted in judgements that the school was outstanding. Following the judgement of inadequate, the school was renamed Fern House School and moved to temporary accommodation on another school's site; whilst there, in 2022, it was re-inspected and judged good.

By 2021, the original school buildings were derelict and the council planned to replace them. The new buildings opened, as Fern House School, in 2025.

References

  1. 1 2 Hyde, William (1969). "Annual Report 1969 of the Medical Officer of Health and Principal School Medical Officer". Wellcome Collection. The Council of the London Borough of Enfield. p. 117. Retrieved 8 February 2026. This day school for fifty maladjusted boys and girls was opened in 1969 by the Education Committee. Initially, twenty children have been placed there and this number will be increased gradually.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Fern House School". GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  3. 1 2 Radomsky, David (2022). "Inspection of Fern House School". Ofsted. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  4. ↑ Cox, Lesley (2017). "Aylands School". Ofsted. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  5. ↑ "Aylands School". Ofsted. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  6. ↑ Bannister, Brendan (7 September 2021). "Delegated Authority Report. Portfolio Decision Of Cabinet Member for Children's Services. Fern House School – Award of Contract for the re-build of the 'life expired' school building" (PDF). London Borough of Enfield. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  7. ↑ "Freezywater special school celebrates new building – and new name". Enfield Dispatch. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  8. ↑ "Official opening of Fern House School marks major milestone for Enfield's SEND provision". Enfield Council. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2026.