Whitefield School

Whitefield School is currently performing well, achieving a good overall effectiveness rating. The school provides a supportive learning environment where pupils feel happy, safe, and respected. Leaders have set high expectations for academic achievement, offering a curriculum designed to cater to the diverse needs of pupils with special educational needs. The emphasis on communication and personal development is notable, helping students prepare for future education and life beyond school. Although there are strengths in the curriculum and pupil support, there are areas for growth, particularly in ensuring consistency in the identification of essential knowledge across subjects and enhancing opportunities for social interactions during break times.

Strengths

• Pupils are happy, well cared for, and kept safe.
• Leaders have high expectations for pupil achievement.
• The curriculum is broad and interesting, preparing pupils well for future education.
• Staff are knowledgeable about the varied needs of pupils.
• There is a strong emphasis on developing pupils' communication skills.
• Pupils behave well and benefit from a supportive school environment.
• The careers programme includes meaningful work experience opportunities.

Areas for Improvement

• Component knowledge in some subjects is not clearly defined.
• Limited opportunities for social interaction during break and lunchtime.

In 2024–25 pupils at Whitefield School attended 84.8% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 46.0% 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, 0.3% of pupils at Whitefield 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 Whitefield School had 6.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.5% 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 Whitefield School had 366 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; speech, language and communication needs; vision 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 2023–24 Whitefield School received £30,209 and spent £31,027 for each of its 374 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £926,000 (-£2,477 per pupil).

Across all 13 schools of Learning in Harmony Multi Academy Trust, income was £10,420 and spending £10,695 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.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Waltham Forest · Waltham Forest local authority: places and applications

Whitefield School is part of Learning in Harmony Multi Academy Trust, which runs 13 schools. The nearest others:

• Joseph Clarke School London
• Sheringham Primary School London
• John F Kennedy Special School London
• Upton Cross Primary School London
• Connaught Special School London
• Hartley Primary School London
• Drew Primary School London
• Edwards Hall Primary School Leigh-On-Sea
• Blenheim Primary School Leigh-On-Sea
• Barons Court Primary School and Nursery Westcliff-On-Sea

What is Whitefield School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Whitefield School is Good, from an inspection in July 2023.

When was Whitefield School last inspected by Ofsted?

Whitefield School was last inspected in July 2023.

How many pupils does Whitefield School have?

Whitefield School has 366 pupils on roll.

What age range does Whitefield School cover?

Whitefield School for pupils aged 2 to 19.

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

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

Where is Whitefield School?

Whitefield School is at Macdonald Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 4AZ.