Hednesford Valley High School

Hednesford Valley High School has effectively maintained the standards established during its previous inspection, showcasing a commitment to improving the quality of education for its pupils. The school fosters strong relationships between staff and students, contributing to a supportive environment where pupils feel safe and valued. This positive atmosphere is complemented by the school's emphasis on academic achievement across a diverse set of subjects, with notably high attendance and pupil satisfaction.

Strengths

• Strong professional relationships between staff and pupils.
• High expectations leading to positive pupil achievement.
• Effective systems to support early-stage readers.
• Comprehensive vocational qualifications available for sixth-form students.
• Emphasis on preparing pupils for adulthood from an early age.
• Wide range of after-school clubs contributing to personal development.

Areas for Improvement

• Learning activities are sometimes not well matched to pupils' needs.
• Checks on the curriculum are insufficiently focused on delivery by teachers.

In 2024–25 pupils at Hednesford Valley High School attended 91.7% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 27.2% 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, 8.4% of pupils at Hednesford Valley High 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 Hednesford Valley High School had 11.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 6.0% 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 Hednesford Valley High School had 205 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or 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 Hednesford Valley High School received £19,644 and spent £18,324 for each of its 205 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,374,000 (£6,703 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 Cannock Chase · Staffordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Hednesford Valley High School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Hednesford Valley High School is Good, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was Hednesford Valley High School last inspected by Ofsted?

Hednesford Valley High School was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does Hednesford Valley High School have?

Hednesford Valley High School has 205 pupils on roll.

What age range does Hednesford Valley High School cover?

Hednesford Valley High School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Hednesford Valley High School?

Hednesford Valley High School is at Stanley Road, Hednesford, Staffordshire, WS12 4JS.