Heltwate School, Peterborough
Heltwate School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 18 in Peterborough. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Heltwate School in detail
Heltwate School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "As Headteacher of Heltwate School, it is my privilege to welcome you to our school and to share a little about what makes Heltwate such a special place. As a school, we are passionate about ensuring that every child and young person is supported to achieve their full potential."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Heltwate School are The Beeches Independent School (2 miles, Requires improvement, selective); Marshfields School (2.2 miles, Good); Medeshamstede Academy (2.5 miles, Requires improvement); and NeneGate (2.5 miles).
The Beeches Independent SchoolMarshfields SchoolMedeshamstede AcademyNeneGate
Where pupils go next
Of the 12 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 75% to a further education college.
Who goes there
50.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 27% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (43%), Asian (23%) and Mixed (12%).
Almost every pupil at Heltwate School has an education, health and care plan (211 of 211 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Heltwate School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Peterborough Rail Station, about 1.9 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Heltwate (adjacent), 190 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Heltwate School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 420 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Peterborough (275), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Heltwate School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: 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 November 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
50.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, SEMH +3
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Heltwate School
Class Teacher
9 Sep 2026
Teaching Assistant
9 Sep 2026
Pupil Support Assistant
9 Sep 2026
New website!
25 Aug 2026
From Heltwate School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Heltwate School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Heltwate School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Heltwate School is in Peterborough; for families living there:
- Peterborough's school travel policy: Mainstream school transport assistance policy
- How to apply: Apply online for school transport for 4 to 16 year olds
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 24
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 24 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 8 serious and 15 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 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 Peterborough is 16 (the median across 91 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
99%
Near capacity
211 pupils
214 places
3 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Peterborough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Peterborough
Across Peterborough council
Places available
3,127
Applications
2,762
Got 1st preference
82.9%
Got preferred school
96.6%
All secondary applications across Peterborough council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
211
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Heltwate School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
211
Total Pupils
153
Boys
58
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
32
Teachers
6.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,470
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.5%
Overall absence
29.4%
Persistent absence
194
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
Heltwate School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Heltwate School
What are SATs results like at Heltwate School?
Of the pupils at Heltwate School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Heltwate School's Ofsted rating?
Heltwate School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Heltwate School?
No fixed boundary. When Heltwate School is oversubscribed, Peterborough allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Heltwate School?
Heltwate School has around 211 pupils on roll. 51% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Heltwate School have specialist SEN provision?
Heltwate School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Heltwate School?
9.5% of sessions were missed at Heltwate School in 2024/25. 29.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Heltwate School?
Apply through Peterborough's coordinated admissions process, naming Heltwate 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 Heltwate School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 24 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 8 serious and 15 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 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 Peterborough is 16 (the median across 91 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Heltwate School?
Heltwate School is at Heltwate, North Bretton, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE3 8RL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)