The Hawthorns School

The Hawthorns School is a special school for autistic pupils, all of whom have an education, health and care plan, and it was inspected for the first time since opening in January 2023. The school is part of the SEAX Trust. Inspectors found strong practice in attendance and behaviour, inclusion, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing. Pupils, many of whom have previously struggled to attend school, now attend consistently well, often matching or exceeding national averages for special schools, and they thrive in a calm, caring and highly inclusive environment. The school's 'LIFE' curriculum and expert therapeutic support prepare pupils well for life beyond school, and families are overwhelmingly positive about the school's work. Achievement and curriculum and teaching are graded as expected standard. Pupils generally achieve well and make good progress from their individual starting points, particularly in literacy, numeracy and phonics, but a small number of lessons are not delivered as consistently because some staff are still developing their expertise. The school already has training and coaching in place to address this. The main next step is to ensure high-quality implementation of the curriculum across all phases and areas so that pupils achieve consistently well. Safeguarding standards are met, and the school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding.

Strengths

• Attendance is consistently high, often matching or exceeding national averages for special schools, through tireless work with families and agencies.
• Pupils show highly positive attitudes to learning and excellent self- and co-regulation across the school.
• The school has a welcoming and inclusive culture where every pupil is known, cared for and well supported.
• Pupils' needs are identified precisely from the moment they start, ensuring effective, individualised support.
• Leaders have a clear and robust vision, carefully implemented as the school has grown quickly.
• The trust provides rigorous, expertly informed support and challenge, and staff feel highly valued.
• The well-conceived 'LIFE' curriculum develops life skills, careers and personal development, preparing pupils for adulthood.
• Pupils leave well prepared for the next stage, with essential life and interaction skills.
• Bullying is very rare and, when it occurs, is very well recorded, analysed and responded to.
• Parents and carers are treated as vital partners and are overwhelmingly positive about the school's work.

Areas for Improvement

• On a small number of occasions, teaching is not as consistent, so pupils do not learn as well as they could.
• Some staff are still gaining expertise and subject knowledge, leading to less consistent curriculum delivery.
• Leaders should ensure high-quality implementation of the curriculum across all phases and areas so that pupils achieve consistently well.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Hawthorns School attended 90.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 14.6% 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 The Hawthorns 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 The Hawthorns School had 6.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.6% 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 The Hawthorns School had 69 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: 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 The Hawthorns School received £73,344 and spent £61,510 for each of its 30 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £474,000 (£15,804 per pupil).

Across all 5 schools of Seax Trust, income was £24,843 and spending £24,605 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 Chelmsford · Essex local authority: places and applications

The Hawthorns School is part of Seax Trust, which runs 5 schools. The nearest others:

• Thriftwood School Chelmsford
• Grove House School Brentwood
• Kingswode Hoe School Colchester
• Langham Oaks Colchester

What is The Hawthorns School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Hawthorns School is Expected standard, from an inspection in February 2026.

When was The Hawthorns School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Hawthorns School was last inspected in February 2026.

How many pupils does The Hawthorns School have?

The Hawthorns School has 69 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Hawthorns School cover?

The Hawthorns School for pupils aged 7 to 16.

What are The Hawthorns School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is The Hawthorns School?

The Hawthorns School is at Thornhurst Road, Chelmsford, CM1 2XT.