Torfield School

Torfield School continues to excel as an outstanding institution, celebrated for its supportive and nurturing environment where pupils feel happy and safe. High attendance rates and trusting relationships between pupils and staff illustrate the strong community spirit. The school places significant emphasis on developing independence and practical skills for life, ensuring that each child's journey is personalized, particularly for those with special educational needs. The curriculum is well-structured, stimulating, and effectively sequenced to support all learners, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities.

Strengths

• Pupils have high aspirations and are motivated to learn.
• The school offers a strong academic curriculum tailored to individual needs.
• Every child is included in outdoor activities and trips.
• Robust safeguarding arrangements are in place, creating a safe learning environment.
• The introduction of a structured phonics scheme has significantly improved reading outcomes.

In 2024–25 pupils at Torfield School attended 93.3% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 17.0% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Torfield 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 Torfield School had 8.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.7% 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 Torfield School had 97 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; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; 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 2024–25 Torfield School received £106,219 and spent £40,116 for each of its 102 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £7,782,000 (£76,296 per pupil).

Across all 2 schools of Torfield and Saxon Mount Academy Trust, income was £105,846 and spending £38,520 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 Hastings · East Sussex local authority: places and applications

Torfield School is part of Torfield and Saxon Mount Academy Trust, which runs 2 schools. The nearest others:

• Saxon Mount School St Leonards-On-Sea

What is Torfield School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Torfield School is Outstanding, from an inspection in April 2023.

When was Torfield School last inspected by Ofsted?

Torfield School was last inspected in April 2023.

How many pupils does Torfield School have?

Torfield School has 97 pupils on roll.

What age range does Torfield School cover?

Torfield School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

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

Where is Torfield School?

Torfield School is at Croft Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3JT.