Batchwood School

Batchwood School demonstrates a strong overall performance, with pupils achieving well from various starting points, including those with special educational needs and those receiving pupil premium. The school provides effective support in reading and ensures that most pupils leave with qualifications in English and mathematics, aiding their transition to post-16 education. Attendance and behaviour have shown notable improvements, with tailored strategies helping students, particularly those with social, emotional, and mental health challenges, to maintain engagement and reduce absenteeism. While the school has several strengths, such as a calm and purposeful learning environment and positive relationships between staff and pupils, there are areas for further development. The effectiveness of the curriculum has been identified as needing improvement, particularly in ensuring high expectations and a clearer mapping of knowledge progression. Additionally, leaders are urged to refine systems for tracking pupil progress to enhance oversight of educational standards more efficiently.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve well from their various starting points.
• Strong focus on reading catch-up support.
• Most pupils leave with qualifications in English and mathematics.
• Sustained improvement in attendance rates.
• Excellent staff-pupil relationships.
• Effective safeguarding practices.
• Therapeutic and mental health support available on-site.
• Well-structured PSHE curriculum tailored to pupil needs.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum expectations are not high enough in some subjects.
• Monitoring systems for tracking pupil progress are cumbersome.

In 2024–25 pupils at Batchwood School attended 74.9% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 56.8% 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, 23.4% of pupils at Batchwood 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 Batchwood School had 4.3 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 Batchwood School had 111 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 Batchwood School received £29,484 and spent £29,003 for each of its 111 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £517,000 (£4,656 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 St Albans · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Batchwood School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Batchwood School is Needs attention, from an inspection in May 2026.

When was Batchwood School last inspected by Ofsted?

Batchwood School was last inspected in May 2026.

How many pupils does Batchwood School have?

Batchwood School has 111 pupils on roll.

What age range does Batchwood School cover?

Batchwood School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Batchwood School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 12.4, and 8% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Batchwood School?

Batchwood School is at Townsend Drive, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 5RP.