High Park School

High Park School is a rapidly improving special academy that caters to pupils with complex special educational needs and disabilities. The care and support provided to students are exemplary, leading to a safe and nurturing environment where pupils thrive and feel happy. While the overall effectiveness of the school is good, with outstanding behaviour and attitudes, there remain areas identified for improvement, particularly concerning the planning of the curriculum for a small number of pupils accessing a more formal pathway.

Strengths

• Exceptional levels of emotional health and well-being support for pupils.
• Strong focus on personal development and independence preparation.
• Compassionate and attentive staff who build trusting relationships with pupils.
• Pupils make significant progress in communication skills.
• Effective safeguarding practices with skilled staff.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum planning is less effective for a small proportion of pupils who need a formal curriculum.
• Underdeveloped teaching of reading for the most-able pupils.

In 2024–25 pupils at High Park School attended 92.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 25.5% 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 High 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 High Park School had 10.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 21.1% 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 High Park School had 135 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty; 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 High Park School received £36,392 and spent £35,961 for each of its 120 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £13,000 (£112 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of Carlton Academy Trust, income was £10,469 and spending £10,312 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 Bradford · Bradford local authority: places and applications

High Park School is part of Carlton Academy Trust, which runs 8 schools. The nearest others:

• Carlton Mills Bradford
• Carlton Bolling Bradford
• Thorpe Primary Bradford
• Marshfield Primary Bradford
• Beechcliffe Special School Keighley
• Carlton Keighley Keighley
• Oulton Academy Leeds

What is High Park School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for High Park School is Good, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was High Park School last inspected by Ofsted?

High Park School was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does High Park School have?

High Park School has 135 pupils on roll.

What age range does High Park School cover?

High Park School for pupils aged 3 to 19.

Where is High Park School?

High Park School is at Thorn Lane, Heaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD9 6RY.