Tettenhall Wood School

Tettenhall Wood is a happy, inclusive all-through special school for pupils with autism and education, health and care plans. This was its first section 5 inspection, and it is now part of Amethyst Academies Trust with a new executive headteacher. Inspectors found strong behaviour and personal development, an ambitious curriculum, effective safeguarding, and good sixth-form provision. Pupils settle quickly, behave exceptionally well, and benefit from a well-planned wider curriculum and a careers programme that is a notable strength. The school is ambitious for all pupils and has recently revised its curriculum, with early positive impact. Staff generally understand individual needs and manage transitions carefully. Older pupils access formal qualifications aligned to career pathways, and sixth-form students are well prepared for life after school through strong external partnerships and well-managed transitions. There are two main areas for improvement. The new phonics programme is not delivered consistently or precisely, and pupils are not always given books that match the sounds they have learned. In addition, curriculum monitoring is not consistently strong across all subjects, so some gaps in pupils' understanding are not spotted quickly enough and learning slows for some pupils.

Strengths

• Pupils are happy, welcomed quickly and settle well into school life.
• Pupils behave exceptionally well in and out of lessons.
• Staff generally understand pupils' individual SEND needs and support learning well.
• Transitions are carefully managed so pupils feel supported at each stage.
• The curriculum is ambitious and well thought through, with clear important knowledge.
• Recent curriculum revision is starting to show positive impact.
• Older pupils access formal qualifications matched to clear career pathways.
• The careers programme is a strength and helps prepare pupils for work and adulthood.
• External partnerships support communication, behaviour, trauma and resilience.
• Sixth-form preparation for life after school and transitions into continuing education or training are well managed.
• The vast majority of pupils attend regularly, and pastoral support helps anxious pupils improve attendance.
• Trustees and local governors support and challenge leaders effectively.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Areas for Improvement

• The phonics curriculum is not implemented consistently or precisely enough.
• Some staff lack the expertise to teach phonics as intended.
• Pupils are not always given appropriate books to practise the sounds they have just learned.
• Curriculum implementation is not monitored accurately enough in all areas.
• Not all subject leaders identify where teachers have not checked pupils' understanding.
• Some pupils do not receive timely support, so their knowledge is not secure and learning slows.

In 2024–25 pupils at Tettenhall Wood School attended 90.8% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 27.7% 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, 1.2% of pupils at Tettenhall Wood 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 Tettenhall Wood School had 7.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.2% 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 Tettenhall Wood School had 172 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty; 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 Tettenhall Wood School received £39,107 and spent £34,571 for each of its 170 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £742,000 (£4,363 per pupil).

Across all 5 schools of Amethyst Academies Trust, income was £11,392 and spending £10,925 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 Wolverhampton · Wolverhampton local authority: places and applications

Tettenhall Wood School is part of Amethyst Academies Trust, which runs 5 schools. The nearest others:

• Aldersley High School Wolverhampton
• Penn Hall School Wolverhampton
• Moreton School Wolverhampton
• The Telford Park School Telford

What is Tettenhall Wood School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Tettenhall Wood School is Good, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was Tettenhall Wood School last inspected by Ofsted?

Tettenhall Wood School was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does Tettenhall Wood School have?

Tettenhall Wood School has 172 pupils on roll.

What age range does Tettenhall Wood School cover?

Tettenhall Wood School for pupils aged 4 to 19.

What are Tettenhall Wood School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Tettenhall Wood School?

Tettenhall Wood School is at Regis Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV6 8XF.