Lakeside School

Lakeside School continues to maintain its outstanding status, providing a supportive and enriching environment for pupils with a range of learning needs. The school excels in fostering individual care, ensuring that pupils are engaged and thrive through tailored educational approaches. Staff demonstrate a deep understanding of each pupil's needs, allowing for effective communication and interaction, which is central to the school's curriculum. The nurturing atmosphere at Lakeside ensures pupils feel safe and supported as they develop essential life skills through community engagement and well-structured learning experiences.

Strengths

• High-quality guidance and support provided to pupils.
• Strong emphasis on communication and interaction skills.
• Rich and well-structured curriculum tailored to individual needs.
• Pupils thrive in a nurturing and safe environment.
• Effective integration of real-life experiences into learning.

In 2024–25 pupils at Lakeside School attended 89.3% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 36.7% 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, 0.9% of pupils at Lakeside School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). One pupil was 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 Lakeside School had 8.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.4% 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 Lakeside School had 115 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder.

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 Lakeside School received £32,160 and spent £32,230 for each of its 115 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £249,000 (£2,168 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 Welwyn Garden City · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Lakeside School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Lakeside School is Outstanding, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Lakeside School last inspected by Ofsted?

Lakeside School was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Lakeside School have?

Lakeside School has 115 pupils on roll.

What age range does Lakeside School cover?

Lakeside School for pupils aged 2 to 19.

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

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

Where is Lakeside School?

Lakeside School is at Lemsford Lane, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6YN.