Forest Moor School

Forest Moor School has undergone significant improvements and is performing well overall, achieving a 'Good' rating across various domains. The school caters to pupils with complex social, emotional, and mental health needs, providing a nurturing environment that supports personal and academic development. Although it has effectively taken steps to ensure students attain qualifications in core subjects like English and Mathematics, attendance remains a challenge, with some pupils missing substantial amounts of school time. The leadership, supported by the Wellspring Academy Trust, has fostered a culture of pride and investment among staff, enhancing the educational experience for all students.

Strengths

• Staff understand and cater to the complex SEMH needs of pupils exceptionally well.
• Pupils experience a broad curriculum that prioritizes essential subjects like English and Mathematics.
• All pupils achieve formal qualifications in core subjects before leaving.
• There are effective systems in place for managing behaviour and reducing bullying incidents.
• Outdoor learning opportunities contribute positively to pupil engagement and enjoyment.

Areas for Improvement

• Attendance figures are lower than national and local averages.
• Curriculum plans in some subjects, like history and geography, lack precision and clarity.

In 2024–25 pupils at Forest Moor School attended 59.7% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 80.2% 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, 6.8% of pupils at Forest Moor 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 Forest Moor School had 9.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 25.0% 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 Forest Moor School had 128 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 Forest Moor School received £33,582 and spent £30,906 for each of its 105 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £62,000 (-£593 per pupil).

Across all 25 schools of Wellspring Academy Trust, income was £12,764 and spending £12,663 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 Harrogate · North Yorkshire local authority: places and applications

Forest Moor School is part of Wellspring Academy Trust, which runs 25 schools. The nearest others:

• Green Meadows Academy Leeds
• The Forest School Knaresborough
• Penny Field School Leeds
• Bramley Park Academy Leeds
• Parkside School Bradford
• Ebor Gardens Primary Academy Leeds
• Victoria Primary Academy Leeds
• Springwell Leeds Academy Leeds
• Elements Primary School Leeds
• Joseph Norton Academy Huddersfield

What is Forest Moor School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Forest Moor School is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was Forest Moor School last inspected by Ofsted?

Forest Moor School was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does Forest Moor School have?

Forest Moor School has 128 pupils on roll.

What age range does Forest Moor School cover?

Forest Moor School for pupils aged 9 to 16.

What are Forest Moor School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Forest Moor School?

Forest Moor School is at Menwith Hill Road, Darley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 2RA.