Woolston Brook School

Woolston Brook School is a small all-through community special school for pupils aged 7 to 16, all of whom have an education, health and care plan for social, emotional and mental health needs or autism. Since the previous inspection, a new headteacher and deputy headteacher have taken up post, and the school has improved significantly. This graded inspection found the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management all to be good, with safeguarding effective. Pupils achieve well in a broad, ambitious curriculum that now includes expanded vocational courses and national qualifications at key stage 4. They benefit from strong, trusting relationships with staff, behave well, and are supported sensitively with their social, emotional and mental health needs. Reading is a priority, attendance is improving, and pupils access a wide range of personal development and careers opportunities. The main areas for improvement are that a small number of subjects do not require sufficiently ambitious work or give pupils enough chance to apply and demonstrate their knowledge, which limits depth of learning. New subject and aspect leaders are also at an early stage of using the information they hold to drive improvement and show impact, and they need further support to develop in their roles.

Strengths

• Broad and ambitious curriculum aligned with the national curriculum
• Expanded vocational offer at key stage 4 with national qualifications
• Pupils achieve well and rise to the school's high expectations
• Strong and trusting relationships between staff and pupils
• Pupils behave well and have positive attitudes to learning
• Staff sensitively support pupils' social, emotional and mental health needs
• Reading is prioritised with targeted support for pupils who struggle
• Attendance is improving through effective work with families and agencies
• Personal development covers tolerance, respect, online safety and careers
• New leadership has empowered staff and built confidence
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• In a small number of subjects, work is not ambitious enough and limits the depth of pupils' learning
• Pupils do not always have opportunities to apply and demonstrate their knowledge or express their ideas
• New subject and aspect leaders are in the early stages of using information to drive further improvement
• New leaders need further support to enhance their roles and demonstrate the impact of their work

In 2024–25 pupils at Woolston Brook School attended 68.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 68.9% 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, 46.4% of pupils at Woolston Brook 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 Woolston Brook School had 5.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.2% 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 Woolston Brook School had 73 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: social, emotional and mental health.

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 Woolston Brook School received £36,072 and spent £33,752 for each of its 73 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £43,000 (-£590 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 Woolston Brook School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Woolston Brook School is Good, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was Woolston Brook School last inspected by Ofsted?

Woolston Brook School was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does Woolston Brook School have?

Woolston Brook School has 73 pupils on roll.

What age range does Woolston Brook School cover?

Woolston Brook School for pupils aged 7 to 16.

What are Woolston Brook School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 11.4, and 6% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Woolston Brook School?

Woolston Brook School is at Green Lane, Padgate, Green Lane, Padgate, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 4JL.