Westhaven School

Westhaven School is a special school for pupils aged 4–18, all of whom have an education, health and care plan. It has improved markedly since its previous inspection, when it was judged to require improvement. Inspectors found the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision to be good, while personal development is outstanding. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. Pupils are well cared for, feel safe and are supported to manage their behaviour, and the school’s ambitious redesigned curriculum and strong SEND provision prepare them well for future education, employment or training.

Strengths

• Strong, ambitious redesigned curriculum that is well planned and meets pupils’ individual needs
• Highly skilled identification of SEND and adaptation of provision
• Positive relationships and a strong culture of care and safety
• Effective support for pupils to manage their own behaviour
• Exceptional personal development offer, including clubs, trips and leadership opportunities
• Very strong community ethos underpinned by the ‘Westhaven Way’
• Highly effective early reading curriculum and a strong love of reading
• Adapted reading approaches for pupils of all abilities, including pre-verbal pupils
• Effective careers advice and work experience matched to pupils’ needs and interests
• Good preparation for future education, employment or training
• Effective systems to improve attendance
• Strong safeguarding arrangements
• Good sixth-form provision with reading, communication and interaction prioritised

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum improvements are not yet fully embedded in some subjects, including in the sixth form
• Pupils’ learning is more secure in some subjects than others
• Questioning approaches to deepen pupils’ thinking are not consistently established, for example in mathematics
• Pupils sometimes show less eagerness to learn where curriculum developments are newer

In 2024–25 pupils at Westhaven School attended 90.7% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 26.1% 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, 3.2% of pupils at Westhaven 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 Westhaven School had 8.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 21.6% 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 Westhaven School had 190 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; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; 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 Westhaven School received £27,663 and spent £28,091 for each of its 190 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £444,000 (£2,337 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 Weston-Super-Mare · North Somerset local authority: places and applications

What is Westhaven School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Westhaven School is Good, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was Westhaven School last inspected by Ofsted?

Westhaven School was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Westhaven School have?

Westhaven School has 190 pupils on roll.

What age range does Westhaven School cover?

Westhaven School for pupils aged 4 to 18.

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

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

Where is Westhaven School?

Westhaven School is at Ellesmere Road, Uphill, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, BS23 4UT.