Hazel Oak School, Solihull
Hazel Oak School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Solihull. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Hazel Oak School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Hazel Oak School are Reynalds Cross School (1.8 miles, Good); The Dame Ellen Pinsent School (2.5 miles, Outstanding); Trident Alternative Provision Ltd (2.9 miles, Good); and Lindsworth School (3 miles, Requires improvement).
Reynalds Cross SchoolThe Dame Ellen Pinsent SchoolTrident Alternative Provision LtdLindsworth School
What parents say
48 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Hazel Oak School (as of September 2025): 71% would recommend the school, 77% say their child is happy there and 48% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (77%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (48%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 6% to a further education college.
Who goes there
39% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 12.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (64%), Asian (18%) and Mixed (11%).
Almost every pupil at Hazel Oak School has an education, health and care plan (182 of 182 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Hazel Oak School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Shirley Rail Station, about 690 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Oberon Drive (opposite), 260 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hazel Oak School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Hazel Oak School issued 5 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; 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 June 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Some aspects are not as strong as at the last graded inspection.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Hazel Oak School creates a warm, welcoming environment where pupils feel safe and valued. Staff know pupils well and are skilled in supporting their individual needs, particularly in teaching phonics and reading. The school's secondary pathways prepare older pupils well for employment or further education through meaningful vocational training and real-world experiences.
Key Strengths
- Positive relationships between staff and pupils help create a safe, welcoming environment
- Effective phonics programme with well-trained staff supporting reading and writing skills
- Secondary pathways (employment ready and college ready) are well-sequenced with appropriate vocational qualifications
- Strong safeguarding arrangements and effective support from governors
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum in some pathways lacks clear sequencing of knowledge and skills, so pupils' learning does not build effectively over time
- Teaching activities do not always connect well to pupils' stage of learning, limiting progress
- Communication systems for pupils with complex needs are not consistently used across the school
- Limited clubs and enrichment activities beyond the classroom
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and include proper systems to keep pupils safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Weekly kitchen where upper school pupils cook and deliver food to staff
Hazel Oak School is a welcoming special school supporting pupils with a broad range of needs including autism and learning difficulties. The school was previously judged outstanding but evidence suggests some aspects of its work may not be as strong, with the next inspection being a graded inspection.
At a Glance
39.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
48 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Hazel Oak School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hazel Oak School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hazel Oak School is in Solihull; for families living there:
Apply to Solihull for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 10 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
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 Solihull is 12 (the median across 90 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
101%
Over capacity
182 pupils
180 places
2 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Solihull
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Solihull
Across Solihull council
Places available
3,299
Applications
2,632
Got 1st preference
79.7%
Got preferred school
97.1%
All secondary applications across Solihull council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
182
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Hazel Oak 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
182
Total Pupils
131
Boys
51
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
29
Teachers
6.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,560
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.2%
Overall absence
30.6%
Persistent absence
170
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
Hazel Oak School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Hazel Oak School
What are GCSE results like at Hazel Oak School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Hazel Oak School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 2.1. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Hazel Oak School's Ofsted rating?
Hazel Oak School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2019, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Hazel Oak School?
No fixed boundary. When Hazel Oak School is oversubscribed, Solihull allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hazel Oak School?
Hazel Oak School has around 182 pupils on roll. 39% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Hazel Oak School have specialist SEN provision?
Hazel Oak School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Hazel Oak School?
10.2% of sessions were missed at Hazel Oak School in 2024/25. 30.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hazel Oak School?
Apply through Solihull's coordinated admissions process, naming Hazel Oak 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 Hazel Oak School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 10 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 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 Solihull is 12 (the median across 90 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hazel Oak School?
Hazel Oak School is at Hazel Oak Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 2AZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)