Hawthorns School, Hyde
Hawthorns School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Hyde, part of New Bridge Multi Academy Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Hawthorns School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Hawthorns School are Brambles School (0.3 miles, Good); Peak Forest (0.8 miles, Requires improvement); Cromwell High School (2.3 miles); and Arnfield Independent School (2.4 miles, Good).
Brambles SchoolPeak ForestCromwell High SchoolArnfield Independent School
The trust
Hawthorns School is one of 8 schools run by New Bridge Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
50 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Hawthorns School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 94% 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 the school has high expectations for their child (88%).
Who goes there
41.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (74%), Asian (10%) and Black (7%).
Almost every pupil at Hawthorns School has an education, health and care plan (246 of 246 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Hawthorns School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Broadbottom Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Longdale Drive (near), 230 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hawthorns School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Hawthorns 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); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Hawthorns School excels at creating a welcoming, caring environment where every child feels safe and valued. Staff are passionate about supporting pupils' learning and personal development, teaching essential life skills alongside academic subjects. Parents consistently praise staff as 'amazing' and note they go above and beyond to support both children and families.
Key Strengths
- Highly effective and ambitious curriculum with exceptional communication skills teaching
- Highly skilled, compassionate staff who deeply understand pupils' complex needs and respond sensitively to behaviour and emotions
- Strong focus on fostering love of reading, with many pupils learning to read successfully
- Expert teaching that adapts delivery to meet individual needs, helping pupils thrive
- Extensive enrichment opportunities including sports, performances, gardening, cycling and forest skills
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Sporting events, school performances, gardening, cycling, forest skills, sensory garden exploration, tree climbing, den building, campfire activities
Hawthorns School is a special school for pupils aged 4-11 with complex educational, health and care needs. The school has successfully maintained its outstanding standards with a relentless focus on providing exemplary education and care.
At a Glance
41.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
50 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)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Hawthorns School
Before and after school care
Hawthorns 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 Tameside
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hawthorns School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hawthorns School is in Tameside; for families living there:
Apply to Tameside for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 21
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 21 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 17 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 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 Tameside is 12 (the median across 111 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
106%
Over capacity
246 pupils
233 places
13 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Hyde
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hyde
Across Tameside council
Places available
3,293
Applications
2,719
Got 1st preference
86.7%
Got preferred school
96.3%
All secondary applications across Tameside council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
246
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Hawthorns School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
246
Total Pupils
181
Boys
65
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
31
Teachers
7.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,761
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.2%
Overall absence
19.9%
Persistent absence
221
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Hawthorns School
Questions parents ask about Hawthorns School
What are SATs results like at Hawthorns School?
Of the pupils at Hawthorns School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Hawthorns School's Ofsted rating?
Hawthorns School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Hawthorns School?
No fixed boundary. When Hawthorns School is oversubscribed, Tameside allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hawthorns School?
Hawthorns School has around 246 pupils on roll. 42% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Hawthorns School have specialist SEN provision?
Hawthorns School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Hawthorns School?
7.2% of sessions were missed at Hawthorns School in 2024/25. 19.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hawthorns School?
Apply through Tameside's coordinated admissions process, naming Hawthorns 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 Hawthorns School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Hawthorns 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 Hawthorns School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 21 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 17 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 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 Tameside is 12 (the median across 111 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hawthorns School?
Hawthorns School is at Manley Grove, Hyde, SK14 6PJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)