Forest Moor School, Harrogate
Forest Moor School is a special school for pupils aged 9 to 16 in Harrogate, part of Wellspring Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Forest Moor School in detail
The trust
Forest Moor School is one of 33 schools run by Wellspring Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 19 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 37% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 32% to a further education college and 16% into work.
Who goes there
62.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Forest Moor School has an education, health and care plan (128 of 128 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Forest Moor School has a SEN unit for social, emotional and mental health needs: 135 places, 130 pupils on roll.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Forest Moor School issued 11 suspensions, 10.7 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils develop socially and academically at this much-improved special school. Pupils have a range of complex social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. Staff at the school understand these needs extremely well. Pupils experience learning and enrichment that are well matched to their individual profiles. Pupils are kept safe in this nurturing environment.
Pupils learn a broad curriculum. Central to this are their SEMH targets. English and mathematics are prioritised. All pupils leave with a qualification in these important subjects. This helps pupils secure important next steps in learning and employment.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has made significant improvements in recent years, with support from the academy trust. In mathematics, the school has carefully chosen and adapted high-quality resources. This ensures an increased number of pupils achieve formal qualifications before they leave school. In English, the curriculum is text-rich and adapted to the needs of the pupils. For example, Year 10 pupils enjoy learning about 'Of Mice and Men'. They show their understanding of influences on the writer. This includes the Wall Street Crash and the American Dust Bowl. The sensory room brings the text to life. Images, lighting and sound help pupils picture the setting. However, in some subjects, the curriculum plans are not precise enough. The school has not made clear the most important knowledge pupils need to know. Some pupils do not close gaps in learning rapidly enough. In subjects such as history and geography, pupils lack subject-specific knowledge. This limits their progress.
From Ofsted's June 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
62.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEN unit: SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Keep up with Forest Moor School
Free school transport
Check free transport to Forest Moor School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Forest Moor School is in North Yorkshire; for families living there:
Apply to North Yorkshire 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 North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 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
95%
Near capacity
128 pupils
135 places
7 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Harrogate
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Harrogate
Across North Yorkshire council
Places available
7,086
Applications
5,586
Got 1st preference
91.9%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All secondary applications across North Yorkshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
128
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Forest Moor School has a SEN unit for social, emotional and mental health needs: 135 places, 130 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
128
Total Pupils
101
Boys
27
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
14
Teachers
9.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,833
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
40.3%
Overall absence
80.2%
Persistent absence
131
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Forest Moor School
Questions parents ask about Forest Moor School
What are GCSE results like at Forest Moor School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Forest Moor School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 1.7. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Forest Moor School's Ofsted rating?
Forest Moor School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024.
What is the catchment area for Forest Moor School?
No fixed boundary. When Forest Moor School is oversubscribed, North Yorkshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Forest Moor School?
Forest Moor School has around 128 pupils on roll. 63% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Forest Moor School have specialist SEN provision?
Forest Moor School has a SEN unit for social, emotional and mental health needs: 135 places, 130 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Forest Moor School?
40.3% of sessions were missed at Forest Moor School in 2024/25. 80.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Forest Moor School?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Forest Moor 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.
How many road collisions happen near Forest Moor 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 North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Forest Moor School?
Forest Moor School is at Menwith Hill Road, Darley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 2RA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)