Old Hall School

Old Hall School is a community special school for pupils aged 3 to 11 with complex needs, including autism spectrum condition and severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties; all pupils have an education, health and care plan. Inspectors found exceptionally strong provision across all areas, with a highly ambitious curriculum tailored to pupils’ SEND needs, embedded securely across learning pathways, and supported by highly effective assessment and review involving parents and external therapists. Safeguarding arrangements are effective, and the report identifies no areas for improvement. Pupils’ communication and interaction are central to the school’s work, behaviour support is highly inclusive, and mental health and well-being are exceptionally well supported. Reading is prioritised through a bespoke early reading system and structured phonics, pupils’ attitudes to learning are impressive, attendance is a priority, and early years provision gives children a strong start. Personal development is a particular strength, including preparation for adulthood, careers, wider opportunities and character development. Leaders and governors are highly regarded locally and share expertise across the local authority. The school is expanding its early years and key stage 1 provision to another site in January 2025 and is no longer federated with another school.

Strengths

• Highly ambitious curriculum tailored precisely to pupils with SEND, including complex needs
• Communication and interaction are central to the curriculum, and pupils use effective communication strategies
• Excellent, inclusive behavioural support through the holistic intervention programme
• Exceptionally strong mental health and well-being support, with pupils feeling happy and safe
• Highly effective assessment and review systems, supported by strong partnerships with parents and external professionals
• Reading is highly prioritised, with a bespoke early reading system and structured phonics
• Pupils display impressive attitudes to learning in a calm and orderly environment
• Early years provision establishes high expectations, strong routines and effective communication support from the start
• Exceptional personal development, including preparation for adulthood, careers and wider opportunities
• Leaders and governors are highly regarded locally and share expertise across the local authority
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

In 2024–25 pupils at Old Hall School attended 91.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 21.4% 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, 0.9% of pupils at Old Hall 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 Old Hall School had 7.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 3.8% 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 Old Hall School had 134 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 2025–26 Old Hall School received £34,009 and spent £32,902 for each of its 134 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £253,000 (£1,888 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

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What is Old Hall School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Old Hall School is Outstanding, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was Old Hall School last inspected by Ofsted?

Old Hall School was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Old Hall School have?

Old Hall School has 134 pupils on roll.

What age range does Old Hall School cover?

Old Hall School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Old Hall School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Old Hall School?

Old Hall School is at Bentley Lane, Walsall, West Midlands, WS2 7LU.