Cicely Haughton School, Stoke-on-Trent
Cicely Haughton School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Stoke-on-Trent, part of Manor Hall Academy Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cicely Haughton School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Cicely Haughton School are Hopedale School (1.8 miles, Outstanding); Aurora Hanley School (3.1 miles, Outstanding); Manor Abbey School (3.1 miles); and Newfriars College (3.3 miles, Good).
Hopedale SchoolAurora Hanley SchoolManor Abbey SchoolNewfriars College
The trust
Cicely Haughton School is one of 16 schools run by Manor Hall Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Cicely Haughton School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).
Who goes there
54.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (95%) and Mixed (5%).
Almost every pupil at Cicely Haughton School has an education, health and care plan (55 of 55 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Cicely Haughton School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Cheddleton (Churnet Valley Railway), about 1.9 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 6 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Cicely Haughton School issued 10 suspensions, 17.9 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from May 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a school where children with additional needs truly flourish. Staff understand each pupil as an individual, provide targeted support, and have high expectations that help children overcome negative past experiences with education. The school balances excellent academic learning with strong emotional support through its nurture curriculum, helping children heal, grow and develop confidence both in the classroom and beyond.
Key Strengths
- Creates a warm, nurturing environment where pupils who struggled with education regain confidence and love of learning
- Carefully designed curriculum with exciting sequences of learning that build knowledge step-by-step across all subjects
- Exemplary behaviour support through caring staff relationships and the 'Den' provision for pupils managing emotions
- Strong focus on reading with high-quality texts, daily story time, and author webinars that make reading enjoyable
- Extensive extra-curricular activities and enrichment opportunities including music, sports, and outdoor learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong open and positive culture around pupil safety.
Extracurricular Activities
Mountain boarding, fun runs, woodland exploration, mental health weeks, celebration assemblies, gardening, school camps, music, sporting competitions, art
Cicely Haughton School is a special school for pupils aged 4-11 with social, emotional and mental health needs. The school has been rated Outstanding across all key areas of inspection.
At a Glance
54.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
13 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 12% to 43% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 12% to 21% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 6% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Cicely Haughton School
Before and after school care
Cicely Haughton School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Staffordshire
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cicely Haughton School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cicely Haughton School is in Staffordshire; for families living there:
Apply to Staffordshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
55 pupils
56 places
1 spare place
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Stoke-on-Trent
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stoke-on-Trent
Across Staffordshire council
Places available
8,807
Applications
7,681
Got 1st preference
91.9%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across Staffordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
55
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Cicely Haughton School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
55
Total Pupils
47
Boys
8
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
4.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£62,234
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.0%
Overall absence
32.4%
Persistent absence
34
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Cicely Haughton School
Questions parents ask about Cicely Haughton School
What are SATs results like at Cicely Haughton School?
Of the pupils at Cicely Haughton School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 43% reached the expected standard in reading and 21% did so in maths.
What is Cicely Haughton School's Ofsted rating?
Cicely Haughton School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Cicely Haughton School?
No fixed boundary. When Cicely Haughton School is oversubscribed, Staffordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Cicely Haughton School?
Cicely Haughton School has around 55 pupils on roll. 55% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Cicely Haughton School have specialist SEN provision?
Cicely Haughton School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Cicely Haughton School?
12% of sessions were missed at Cicely Haughton School in 2024/25. 32.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Cicely Haughton School?
Apply through Staffordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Cicely Haughton School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does Cicely Haughton School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Cicely Haughton School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Cicely Haughton School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cicely Haughton School?
Cicely Haughton School is at Westwood Manor, Mill Lane, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST9 0BX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)