Hamilton School

Hamilton School is a special school undergoing significant change, including new leadership, growing pupil numbers and building work. Pupils are happy and well cared for in an inclusive culture where staff understand their backgrounds and interests. Personal development is a clear strength, with pupils benefiting from wider experiences, strong mental health support and opportunities such as the school parliament. Behaviour is generally good, attendance is taken seriously and pupils attend very well, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. The school has accurately identified what needs to improve, and leaders are taking action. However, the curriculum is still in the early stages of development and is not consistently delivered well in lessons. Activities do not always match the key knowledge pupils need or build on what they already know, which slows learning for some pupils. Communication and behaviour strategies are not always applied consistently, so a small number of pupils can become unsettled when their communication needs are not met. Early years provision also needs improvement. Relationships are caring and transitions are clear, but children do not always receive high-quality interactions with adults. This delays the development of early independence, language and communication skills. Despite these concerns, phonics is taught well, pupils’ special educational needs are accurately identified, and parents and staff are overwhelmingly positive about the school.

Strengths

• Caring and inclusive culture where pupils are happy and feel respected
• Strong personal development programme with wider experiences and pupil voice
• Pupils’ mental health is well supported by well-trained staff
• Most pupils behave well and attitudes are positive
• Early reading and phonics are taught well, helping older pupils read independently
• Pupils’ special educational needs and/or disabilities are accurately identified
• Strong work with external agencies to support pupils’ needs
• Effective leadership and governance with accurate self-evaluation
• Very good attendance
• Positive early years relationships and clear transition processes
• Parents and staff are overwhelmingly positive about the school
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum implementation is inconsistent and does not always build on pupils’ prior knowledge
• Learning activities are not always well matched to the knowledge pupils need to learn
• Early years interactions with adults are not consistently high quality
• Some pupils do not develop early independence, language and communication skills quickly enough
• Staff do not always consistently implement agreed communication and behaviour strategies
• Some pupils become unsettled when their communication needs are not well supported
• The quality of education requires further improvement
• Early years provision requires further improvement

In 2024–25 pupils at Hamilton School attended 91.2% 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, 0.6% of pupils at Hamilton 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 Hamilton School had 9.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 23.5% 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 Hamilton School had 196 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: autistic spectrum disorder.

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 2025–26 Hamilton School received £30,052 and spent £32,050 for each of its 196 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £471,000 (-£2,404 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).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Birmingham · Birmingham local authority: places and applications

Hamilton School is part of Birmingham Special Schools Trust, which runs 6 schools. The nearest others:

• Baskerville School Birmingham
• The Pines Special School Birmingham
• Fox Hollies School Birmingham
• The Dame Ellen Pinsent School Birmingham
• Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children Birmingham

What is Hamilton School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Hamilton School is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was Hamilton School last inspected by Ofsted?

Hamilton School was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does Hamilton School have?

Hamilton School has 196 pupils on roll.

What age range does Hamilton School cover?

Hamilton School for pupils aged 4 to 14.

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

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

Where is Hamilton School?

Hamilton School is at Hamilton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, West Midlands, B21 8AH.