Forest Park School

Forest Park School is performing well overall, maintaining its good rating since the last inspection. The school creates a supportive and nurturing environment that emphasizes high expectations from both leaders and staff. Pupils feel safe and valued, participating actively in school life and receiving a well-rounded education that promotes their personal development. Although the school excels in many areas, including its outstanding personal development and good quality of education, there are still challenges, particularly with attendance and curriculum coherence in some subjects. Leaders are actively working to address these issues.

Strengths

• Leaders have high expectations for both staff and pupils.
• Pupils feel safe and are well-supported by trusting relationships with staff.
• The personal development of pupils is exemplary.
• The curriculum fosters effective communication skills and personal independence.
• Pupils are actively involved in the school community and local issues.
• Strong emphasis on embedding reading across the curriculum.
• Staff are well-supported in managing their workload.

Areas for Improvement

• Some subjects lack well-defined curriculum sequencing, affecting pupil achievement.
• A small proportion of pupils do not attend school regularly, impacting their learning.

In 2024–25 pupils at Forest Park School attended 88.8% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 35.5% 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 Forest Park 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 Forest Park School had 6.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.2% 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 Forest Park School had 147 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty.

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 Forest Park School received £32,421 and spent £28,842 for each of its 147 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £654,000 (£4,451 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 Southampton · Hampshire local authority: places and applications

What is Forest Park School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Forest Park School is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.

When was Forest Park School last inspected by Ofsted?

Forest Park School was last inspected in January 2023.

How many pupils does Forest Park School have?

Forest Park School has 147 pupils on roll.

What age range does Forest Park School cover?

Forest Park School for pupils aged 2 to 19.

What are Forest Park School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Forest Park School?

Forest Park School is at Ringwood Road, Totton, Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 8DZ.