Wolverdene Special School

Wolverdene Special School is a small special school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties, all of whom have education, health and care plans and many of whom arrive after extended periods out of education. Inspectors found a calm, inclusive and nurturing school where staff know pupils well and personalised therapeutic and pastoral support helps them re-engage, regulate their emotions, attend more regularly and make appropriate progress from often low starting points. Pupils feel safe, behaviour is good, bullying is rare, and relationships between staff and pupils are positive. The curriculum is coherent and aspirational, reading and phonics are prioritised, inclusion is central, and governance and staff development are effective. There are still areas to improve. Teaching adaptations and questioning vary in effectiveness, so expectations and challenge are not consistently high for all pupils, and handwriting teaching needs to become more consistent so pupils develop fluent, legible writing. Leaders work hard to build positive partnerships with parents and carers, but this is not consistently recognised by parents and remains a priority. Persistent absence is also high, although leaders understand the barriers pupils face and use effective, personalised strategies that are helping attendance improve over time.

Strengths

• Calm, inclusive and nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and ready to learn.
• Strong personalised support for pupils with SEMH and complex needs, including therapeutic and pastoral provision.
• Effective strategies to improve attendance and help pupils re-engage with education.
• Positive staff-pupil relationships and consistently high behavioural expectations.
• Well-planned, coherent curriculum adapted to pupils' varied starting points.
• Effective phonics teaching and a clear focus on core reading, writing and mathematics.
• Inclusion is central, with well-coordinated provision and effective use of additional funding.
• Knowledgeable governors provide effective support and challenge and fulfil statutory duties.
• Supportive working environment with attention to staff workload, wellbeing and professional development.
• Broad personal development curriculum and opportunities for pupil leadership, clubs and trips.
• Pupils develop independence, communication skills and emotional regulation.

Areas for Improvement

• Teaching adaptations and questioning are inconsistent, so expectations and challenge are not consistently high for all pupils.
• Handwriting teaching is not consistently effective, limiting fluency and legibility.
• Partnerships with parents and carers are not consistently recognised by parents and remain a priority.
• Persistent absence remains high, although leaders' strategies are improving attendance over time.

In 2024–25 pupils at Wolverdene Special School attended 84.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 42.3% 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, 30.4% of pupils at Wolverdene Special 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 Wolverdene Special School had 5.7 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 Wolverdene Special School had 55 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 Wolverdene Special School received £43,362 and spent £41,868 for each of its 55 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £402,000 (£7,312 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 Andover · Hampshire local authority: places and applications

What is Wolverdene Special School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Wolverdene Special School is Expected standard, from an inspection in October 2026.

When was Wolverdene Special School last inspected by Ofsted?

Wolverdene Special School was last inspected in October 2026.

How many pupils does Wolverdene Special School have?

Wolverdene Special School has 55 pupils on roll.

What age range does Wolverdene Special School cover?

Wolverdene Special School for pupils aged 6 to 11.

What are Wolverdene Special School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Wolverdene Special School?

Wolverdene Special School is at 22 Love Lane, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 2AF.