Heltwate School

Heltwate School continues to demonstrate a good level of overall performance. It supports pupils with complex learning difficulties effectively, ensuring that they feel safe and secure in a nurturing environment. The school's approach to education focuses on creating individualized learning pathways tailored to each pupil's unique needs, which contributes positively to their emotional and academic development. With a dedicated staff trained to assist students with behavioral challenges, the school promotes resilience through a wide variety of engaging activities, helping pupils gain confidence and essential life skills.

Strengths

• Pupils feel well-supported, safe, and settled.
• Strong positive relationships between staff and pupils.
• Well-planned curriculum pathways tailored to pupils' needs.
• Teachers effectively plan activities to develop life skills.
• The personal development program is enriching and diverse.
• Pupils enjoy activities that promote independence and confidence.
• Effective strategies are in place to help pupils manage their behavior.

Areas for Improvement

• A minority of pupils do not consistently engage with the breadth of the national curriculum.
• Some staff feel unconfident in managing particularly challenging behaviors.

In 2024–25 pupils at Heltwate School attended 90.5% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 29.4% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Heltwate 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 Heltwate School had 7.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.7% 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 Heltwate School had 211 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 Heltwate School received £25,436 and spent £26,349 for each of its 211 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £371,000 (£1,760 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 Peterborough · Peterborough local authority: places and applications

What is Heltwate School's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Heltwate School last inspected by Ofsted?

Heltwate School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Heltwate School have?

Heltwate School has 211 pupils on roll.

What age range does Heltwate School cover?

Heltwate School for pupils aged 4 to 18.

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

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

Where is Heltwate School?

Heltwate School is at Heltwate, North Bretton, Heltwate School, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE3 8RL.