Hednesford Valley High School, Hednesford
Hednesford Valley High School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Hednesford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Hednesford Valley High School in detail
Hednesford Valley High School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "It is my pleasure in welcoming you to Hednesford Valley High School. A "Good" School, where students and staff are valued, respected and inspired to reach their full potential."
The school runs a breakfast club.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Hednesford Valley High School are Sherbrook Primary School (1.3 miles); Great Oaks College (2.3 miles); Chasetown Community School (4.2 miles, Good); and Little Kinvaston School (4.7 miles, Good).
Sherbrook Primary SchoolGreat Oaks CollegeChasetown Community SchoolLittle Kinvaston School
What parents say
24 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Hednesford Valley High School (as of September 2025): 67% would recommend the school, 83% say their child is happy there and 55% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (83%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (55%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 35 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 57% to a further education college.
Who goes there
47.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Hednesford Valley High School has an education, health and care plan (205 of 205 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Hednesford Valley High School has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 185 places, 205 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hednesford Rail Station, about 740 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Platt Street (opposite), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 230 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Hednesford Valley High School issued 27 suspensions, 14.1 for every 100 pupils, and 1 permanent exclusion.
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 September 2014, 12 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's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
This school helps pupils to be 'ready to learn' in school and 'ready for life' after school. Recent changes across the school have improved the quality of education that pupils experience. These high expectations are having a positive impact on how well pupils achieve across a range of subjects.
Strong, professional relationships between staff and pupils are tangible. Pupils value the level of care they receive, which helps them to feel safe. The school knows the pupils well and quickly spots any signs that a pupil may be anxious or upset. Where required, the school steps in quickly to support pupils so they can re-engage with their learning at the earliest opportunity.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
When a pupil joins the school, the school uses information in the education, health and care (EHC) plan, alongside baseline checks, to determine the curriculum pathway that a pupil will follow. As a result, pupils experience a learning journey that is most suitable for their needs. There are occasions when the school identifies undiagnosed needs. In these instances, the school quickly seeks an accurate diagnosis so that it can put suitable support in place.
Across the two curriculum pathways, the school has mapped out the knowledge and skills that pupils will learn within and across year groups. Consequently, new learning builds on what pupils have learned in the past. Pupils work towards a range of relevant qualifications and are well prepared for the next stage in their education.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded 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 September 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
47.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: SpLD, Speech and language, Autism +4
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
24 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Hednesford Valley High School
9JOv Victorian Trip - 20.10.26
1 Oct 2026
Cover Supervisor
30 Sep 2026
Harvest Festival Food Bank Collection 2026
29 Sep 2026
Latches Wood Residential - 21.9.26
22 Sep 2026
RHu Sensory Room Visit - 23.9.26
22 Sep 2026
Macmillan Coffee Morning - 24.9.26
22 Sep 2026
From Hednesford Valley High School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Hednesford Valley High School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hednesford Valley High School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hednesford Valley High 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)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 3 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 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 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
Area Demand Pressure - Hednesford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hednesford
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
205
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Hednesford Valley High School has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 185 places, 205 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
205
Total Pupils
162
Boys
43
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
11.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,533
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.3%
Overall absence
27.2%
Persistent absence
151
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
Hednesford Valley High School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Hednesford Valley High School
What are GCSE results like at Hednesford Valley High School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Hednesford Valley High School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.8. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Hednesford Valley High School's Ofsted rating?
Hednesford Valley High School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Hednesford Valley High School?
No fixed boundary. When Hednesford Valley High School is oversubscribed, Staffordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hednesford Valley High School?
Hednesford Valley High School has around 205 pupils on roll. 48% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Hednesford Valley High School have specialist SEN provision?
Hednesford Valley High School has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 185 places, 205 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Hednesford Valley High School?
8.3% of sessions were missed at Hednesford Valley High School in 2024/25. 27.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hednesford Valley High School?
Apply through Staffordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Hednesford Valley High 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 Hednesford Valley High School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 3 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 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 Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hednesford Valley High School?
Hednesford Valley High School is at Stanley Road, Hednesford, Staffordshire, WS12 4JS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)