Saxon Wood School

Saxon Wood School demonstrates a good overall performance, with notable strengths in pupil behavior and the quality of education. Pupils express happiness in attending the school and benefit from strong, supportive relationships with staff, which foster a positive and engaging learning environment. The school has a well-organized curriculum that supports individual learning needs and has shown ambition in enhancing its educational offerings, particularly in English and mathematics. However, areas such as the wider curriculum planning and assessment systems require further refinement. While leaders are developing a well-structured approach to teaching, some foundation subjects still need precise identification of key knowledge and skills, which can hinder the depth of pupils' understanding. Furthermore, assessment processes are still being established to ensure that pupils can consolidate their learning effectively before progression.

Strengths

• Pupils appreciate and enjoy their education, demonstrating positive attitudes.
• Strong relationships between staff and pupils foster a safe and trusting environment.
• Leaders have high aspirations for pupils, ensuring individual needs are met.
• Effective phonics teaching supports pupils in becoming independent readers.
• Strong behaviour management creates a calm and purposeful atmosphere.
• Enrichment activities, such as horse-riding lessons, are well received by pupils.

Areas for Improvement

• Some foundation subjects lack clearly defined knowledge and skills.
• Assessment systems are not yet fully embedded, affecting clarity of next steps for pupils.

In 2024–25 pupils at Saxon Wood School attended 84.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 61.0% 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 Saxon 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 Saxon Wood School had 7.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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 Saxon Wood School had 45 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: 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.

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 Saxon Wood School received £31,914 and spent £29,774 for each of its 45 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £415,000 (£9,225 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

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What is Saxon Wood School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Saxon Wood School is Good, from an inspection in July 2023.

When was Saxon Wood School last inspected by Ofsted?

Saxon Wood School was last inspected in July 2023.

How many pupils does Saxon Wood School have?

Saxon Wood School has 45 pupils on roll.

What age range does Saxon Wood School cover?

Saxon Wood School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

Where is Saxon Wood School?

Saxon Wood School is at Rooksdown Lane, Rooksdown, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 9NH.