Redwood

Redwood is a special school for pupils with a wide range of complex learning difficulties, and all pupils have an education, health and care plan. Inspectors found it performing strongly overall, with safeguarding standards met and particularly strong work in attendance and behaviour, inclusion, leadership and governance, personal development and wellbeing, and post-16 provision. The sixth form is a standout feature, preparing students well for adulthood through sequenced routes, work-related learning and community experiences. Leaders have made rapid improvements since the previous inspection, including under new senior leadership, and staff, governors and families are well aligned around pupils’ needs. Pupils are known individually, attend well given significant barriers, and benefit from calm routines, therapeutic support and a curriculum that prioritises communication, independence and preparation for adulthood.

Strengths

• Highly effective leadership and governance have driven rapid, lasting improvement since the last inspection.
• Inclusion is central to the school’s work, with bespoke support tailored to pupils’ complex SEND and vulnerabilities.
• Attendance is monitored precisely and supported tenaciously, with disadvantaged pupils attending better than in mainstream settings.
• Pupils behave very well in a calm, harmonious school where staff build warm, nurturing relationships.
• Personal development and wellbeing are strong, with meaningful life skills, therapeutic support and wider experiences.
• Post-16 provision is a significant strength, preparing students exceptionally well for adulthood, work and independent living.
• Safeguarding standards are met, with an open culture and concerns actively identified and managed.
• Staff are proud to work at the school and value strong professional learning and support.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum delivery is not yet fully consistent across all provisions, so some pupils do not secure foundational knowledge and skills as deeply as they could.
• Leaders should continue embedding agreed teaching approaches to strengthen consistency and maximise progress across all areas.

In 2024–25 pupils at Redwood attended 85.8% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 42.9% 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 Redwood 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 Redwood had 7.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.1% 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 Redwood had 365 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 Redwood received £27,970 and spent £28,773 for each of its 365 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £905,000 (£2,479 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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What is Redwood's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Redwood last inspected by Ofsted?

Redwood was last inspected in October 2026.

How many pupils does Redwood have?

Redwood has 365 pupils on roll.

What age range does Redwood cover?

Redwood for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Redwood?

Redwood is at Hudsons Walk, Rochdale, OL11 5EW.