Woodfield School

Woodfield School is a community special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 with profound and multiple learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties, autism and multi-sensory impairments; all pupils have an EHC plan. This graded inspection found the school performing securely overall, with safeguarding arrangements judged effective and positive findings across education, behaviour, personal development, leadership and the sixth form. Pupils are warmly welcomed, know routines well and benefit from strong staff relationships, high expectations and a calm, purposeful environment. The school prioritises communication and independence, and pupils are well supported to express preferences, behave well, learn through adapted teaching and prepare for adult life through life-skills, work-ready experiences and careers advice. Staff are positive about training, well-being and workload, and parents are involved in setting EHC plan targets. The main improvement area is the developing curriculum. Some broader learning steps are well considered, but essential knowledge is not always precisely identified, and some staff are unclear about the smaller steps pupils need, so pupils can occasionally miss key skills or progress too quickly. Links between EHC plan targets and curriculum pathways or themes are also sometimes unclear, which can hinder task planning. Some parents are uncertain whether recent improvements, particularly around staff retention, will be sustained; leaders and governors have plans to address this.

Strengths

• Warm, orderly start to the day with clear routines that help pupils settle.
• Strong, positive staff-pupil relationships underpin pupils’ sense of safety and good behaviour.
• Communication is a central priority, with pupils supported to use symbols, words and aided language boards.
• High expectations for learning and behaviour; pupils engage well and are proud of increasing independence.
• Carefully planned curriculum pathways and interesting themes capture pupils’ interest.
• Teaching is adapted to individual needs and builds on what pupils already know.
• Parents and carers are involved in setting EHC plan targets.
• Strong preparation for adulthood, including independence, work-ready skills, safe travel, food preparation and careers advice.
• Personal development teaches safety and gives pupils responsibilities, including running the school café.
• Staff receive effective training and feel supported with well-being and workload.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum is still under development; essential knowledge steps are not always precisely identified across subjects.
• Some staff are unclear about the smaller learning steps pupils need, so pupils can miss key skills or move on too quickly.
• Links between EHC plan targets and curriculum pathways or themes are sometimes unclear, making it harder to plan appropriate tasks.
• Some parents are uncertain whether recent improvements, particularly around staff retention, will be sustained.

In 2024–25 pupils at Woodfield School attended 87.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 35.2% 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 Woodfield 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 Woodfield School had 7.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 21.8% 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 Woodfield School had 125 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 Woodfield School received £33,330 and spent £37,280 for each of its 125 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £688,000 (-£5,502 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 Hemel Hempstead · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Woodfield School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Woodfield School is Good, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was Woodfield School last inspected by Ofsted?

Woodfield School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does Woodfield School have?

Woodfield School has 125 pupils on roll.

What age range does Woodfield School cover?

Woodfield School for pupils aged 3 to 19.

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

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

Where is Woodfield School?

Woodfield School is at Malmes Croft, Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP3 8RL.