Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy

Woolgrove School, a Special Needs Academy, has shown continued good performance as per its recent inspection. The school creates a welcoming environment where pupils feel safe and happy, with a strong focus on building their confidence and emotional management skills. Parents are supportive and pleased with the tailored curriculum that meets the individual needs of their children. The school's leaders and staff are committed to providing enriching educational experiences, encapsulated by a significant emphasis on reading and communication skills, which are integral to the school's curriculum.

Strengths

• Pupils thrive in a supportive and happy environment.
• Strong emphasis on reading and communication skills across the curriculum.
• Teachers tailor their approaches to meet individual pupils' special educational needs.
• Effective behaviour management with rare incidents of bullying.
• Parents express high levels of satisfaction with the school's support and teaching.

Areas for Improvement

• Minor variations in staff expertise in a few curriculum subjects affecting pupil progress.

In 2024–25 pupils at Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy attended 92.6% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 20.0% 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, 1.6% of pupils at Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy 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 Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy had 6.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 21.2% 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 Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy had 125 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; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; 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 2024–25 Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy received £26,143 and spent £24,722 for each of its 126 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,075,000 (£8,532 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

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All schools in Letchworth Garden City · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.

When was Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy was last inspected in January 2023.

How many pupils does Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy have?

Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy has 125 pupils on roll.

What age range does Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy cover?

Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy?

Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy is at Pryor Way, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, SG6 2PT.