Chiltern Wood School

Chiltern Wood School continues to demonstrate good performance, providing a supportive environment for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) from early years through to sixth form. The deeply caring staff foster a positive atmosphere where pupils feel safe and happy while engaging actively in their learning. The curriculum is ambitious and tailored to meet the diverse needs of its learners, promoting effective communication skills and personal development. Despite its strengths, the school recognizes the need to further develop phonics training for staff and improve systems for assessing prior learning to ensure continuous progress for all pupils.

Strengths

• Dedicated and caring staff that understand and support pupils well.
• Positive learning atmosphere where pupils enjoy their school experience.
• Ambitious and well-planned curriculum tailored to meet diverse needs.
• Effective collaboration with specialists to enhance pupils' communication skills.
• Strong personal development initiatives encouraging independence and community involvement.
• Robust engagement with parents and positive feedback about the school's support.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils do not achieve reading proficiency due to incomplete phonics training for staff.
• Systems for checking pupils' prior learning are not yet fully embedded, affecting continuity in learning.

In 2024–25 pupils at Chiltern Wood School attended 88.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 41.1% 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, 1.4% of pupils at Chiltern Wood 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 Chiltern Wood School had 7.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.6% 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 Chiltern Wood School had 228 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 Chiltern Wood School received £38,646 and spent £35,915 for each of its 228 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £249,000 (£1,090 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).

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• Secondary Schools

All schools in High Wycombe · Buckinghamshire local authority: places and applications

What is Chiltern Wood School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Chiltern Wood School is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Chiltern Wood School last inspected by Ofsted?

Chiltern Wood School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Chiltern Wood School have?

Chiltern Wood School has 228 pupils on roll.

What age range does Chiltern Wood School cover?

Chiltern Wood School for pupils aged 3 to 19.

What are Chiltern Wood School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Chiltern Wood School?

Chiltern Wood School is at Verney Avenue, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP12 3NE.