Hatton Special School, Woodford Green
Hatton Special School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Woodford Green. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Hatton Special School in detail
Hatton Special School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Hatton School: Lighting the fire of curiosity and enquiry in the mind of every pupil. I'm incredibly proud to be the Headteacher of such a vibrant and inclusive school, where nearly 200 amazing children with complex needs come together to learn, grow, and thrive."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Hatton Special School are Stradbroke (0.2 miles, Good); St John's RC School (Essex) (1.6 miles, Good); New Rush Hall School (1.8 miles, Outstanding); and Luxborough Court School (2 miles, Good).
StradbrokeSt John's RC School (Essex)New Rush Hall SchoolLuxborough Court School
What parents say
34 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Hatton Special School (as of September 2025): 82% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 13% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (88%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (13%).
Who goes there
49.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 23.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Hatton Special School has an education, health and care plan (197 of 197 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Hatton Special School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is South Woodford, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Woodford / Roding Lane South, 220 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Hatton Special School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from February 2015, 11 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
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Hatton Special School excels at understanding each child as an individual and creating a calm, welcoming environment where they feel safe and valued. Staff receive regular training and work with patience and sensitivity to support children's learning and behaviour. The school celebrates every child's achievements and ensures all pupils take part in joyful experiences like performances and cultural activities, regardless of their needs.
Key Strengths
- Well-designed curriculum organised into learning pathways that match pupils' ages, development stages and individual needs
- Calm school environment where staff respond patiently and sensitively to pupils' behaviour and emotional needs
- Strong support for early reading through consistent communication approaches including symbols, gesture and language
- Early years provision with safe, purposeful classrooms that encourage independence and exploration
- Thoughtful personal development that prioritises independence, self-expression and emotional growth
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching activities don't always match pupils' developmental stages closely enough, sometimes causing frustration and limiting progress
- Assessment information isn't used consistently across all subjects to shape what is taught next
- A small number of parents feel their concerns are not always fully understood
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Educational visits, themed weeks, celebrations, charity events, performances, cultural activities
Hatton Special School is a nurturing community that knows pupils' complex needs well and is determined to provide the best possible education. The school has clear routines, calm staff, and a thoughtful approach to supporting each child's development.
At a Glance
49.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
34 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)
Maths has remained stable at around 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Hatton Special School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hatton Special School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hatton Special School is in Redbridge; for families living there:
Apply to Redbridge for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 35
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 32 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
8 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Redbridge is 56 (the median across 94 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
103%
Over capacity
197 pupils
191 places
6 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Woodford Green
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Woodford Green
Across Redbridge council
Places available
3,708
Applications
3,422
Got 1st preference
68.4%
Got preferred school
93.3%
All secondary applications across Redbridge council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
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
197
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Hatton Special School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
197
Total Pupils
151
Boys
46
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
35
Teachers
5.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£64,140
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.1%
Overall absence
31.6%
Persistent absence
187
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Hatton Special School
Questions parents ask about Hatton Special School
What are SATs results like at Hatton Special School?
Of the pupils at Hatton Special School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Hatton Special School's Ofsted rating?
Hatton Special School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Hatton Special School?
No fixed boundary. When Hatton Special School is oversubscribed, Redbridge allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hatton Special School?
Hatton Special School has around 197 pupils on roll. 50% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Hatton Special School have specialist SEN provision?
Hatton Special School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Hatton Special School?
10.1% of sessions were missed at Hatton Special School in 2024/25. 31.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hatton Special School?
Apply through Redbridge's coordinated admissions process, naming Hatton Special 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 Hatton Special School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 32 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 8 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Redbridge is 56 (the median across 94 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hatton Special School?
Hatton Special School is at Roding Lane South, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 8EU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)