Cicely Haughton School

Cicely Haughton School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 with social, emotional and mental health needs, many of whom also have additional SEND such as autism, speech and language needs, and learning and cognition needs. Inspected in June 2025, it was judged outstanding in quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, with effective safeguarding. This was its first section 5 inspection, so no previous section 5 grade exists, and under current arrangements no overall effectiveness grade is given. The school is part of the Manor Hall Trust and also runs a satellite provision at Tillington Manor Primary School. The report describes a warm, nurturing and calm school where pupils who have often had negative previous experiences of education are helped to build confidence, voice and a love of learning. High expectations are matched by a carefully sequenced and ambitious curriculum, a strong reading culture, adaptive teaching, and targeted support for pupils with SEND developed in close partnership with families. The nurture curriculum, the Den, exemplary behaviour support, close attendance monitoring, PSHE, and a wide range of enrichment activities help pupils develop resilience, self-esteem and social skills. Leaders, trustees and the trust have strengthened reading, mathematics and curriculum leadership since the previous inspection, and staff feel valued and well supported. No significant weaknesses were identified in the report.

Strengths

• Warm, nurturing environment where pupils feel seen, heard and understood
• High expectations and ambition help pupils overcome previous negative experiences of education
• Carefully designed, ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum across all subjects
• Strong reading culture with high-quality texts, phonics, comprehension and daily story time
• Staff adapt teaching effectively and check pupils' understanding regularly
• Targeted SEND support is developed through close relationships with families
• Nurture curriculum builds pupils' confidence, relationships and emotional resilience
• Exemplary behaviour support, including the Den for pupils who need time to manage emotions
• Attendance is closely monitored and communicated with carers and external professionals
• PSHE, gardening, camps, music, sport and art enrich pupils' experiences and build confidence
• Staff feel valued and well supported, with a strong culture of well-being
• Leaders, trustees and the trust have driven improvements in reading, mathematics and curriculum leadership
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

In 2024–25 pupils at Cicely Haughton School attended 88.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 32.4% 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, 10.7% of pupils at Cicely Haughton 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 Cicely Haughton School had 4.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 3.4% 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 Cicely Haughton School had 55 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: social, emotional and mental health.

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 Cicely Haughton School received £50,840 and spent £46,934 for each of its 56 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £823,000 (£14,697 per pupil).

Across all 13 schools of Manor Hall Academy Trust, income was £31,857 and spending £31,448 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 Stoke-On-Trent · Staffordshire local authority: places and applications

Cicely Haughton School is part of Manor Hall Academy Trust, which runs 13 schools. The nearest others:

• Manor Abbey School Stoke-On-Trent
• Springfield School Leek
• The Meadows School Leek
• Merryfields School Newcastle
• Loxley Hall School Uttoxeter
• Adelaide School Crewe
• Adelaide Heath Academy Knutsford
• Sherbrook Primary School Cannock
• Rocklands School Lichfield
• Shenstone Lodge School Lichfield

What is Cicely Haughton School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Cicely Haughton School is Outstanding, from an inspection in July 2025.

When was Cicely Haughton School last inspected by Ofsted?

Cicely Haughton School was last inspected in July 2025.

How many pupils does Cicely Haughton School have?

Cicely Haughton School has 55 pupils on roll.

What age range does Cicely Haughton School cover?

Cicely Haughton School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Cicely Haughton School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Cicely Haughton School?

Cicely Haughton School is at Westwood Manor, Mill Lane, Wetley Rocks, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST9 0BX.