Highfield School, Ossett
Highfield School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Ossett, part of Education Ossett - Community Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2018)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Highfield School in detail
Highfield School in its own words
In its own words: "Overall, our ambition is to ensure that every pupil is well prepared for the next stage of their lives, be that finding meaningful employment, continued education, supported or independent living. Our Post 16 provision formally opened in 2014 and now has nearly 60 pupils in years 12, 13 and 14."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Highfield School are Hall Cliffe Primary School (2.2 miles, Outstanding); Hall Cliffe School (2.6 miles, Requires improvement); Becker School (3.1 miles, Good); and Ravenshall School (3.2 miles, Outstanding).
Hall Cliffe Primary SchoolHall Cliffe SchoolBecker SchoolRavenshall School
The trust
Highfield School is one of 3 schools run by Education Ossett - Community Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 22 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 77% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 5% to a further education college.
Who goes there
51.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 5.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%) and Asian (6%).
Almost every pupil at Highfield School has an education, health and care plan (210 of 210 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Highfield School has a SEN unit for autism and severe learning difficulties: 210 places, 200 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Batley Rail Station, about 1.9 miles away in a straight line.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Highfield School issued 7 suspensions, 3.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from May 2018, 8 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 May 2018 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
51.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Highfield School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Highfield School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Highfield School is in Wakefield; for families living there:
- Wakefield's school travel policy: Home To School Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Wakefield is 13 (the median across 157 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
100%
Full
210 pupils
210 places
No spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Ossett
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ossett
Across Wakefield council
Places available
4,300
Applications
3,912
Got 1st preference
90.7%
Got preferred school
97.3%
All secondary applications across Wakefield council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
210
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Highfield School has a SEN unit for autism and severe learning difficulties: 210 places, 200 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
210
Total Pupils
136
Boys
74
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
34
Teachers
6.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,107
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.2%
Overall absence
29.2%
Persistent absence
161
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
Highfield School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Highfield School
What are GCSE results like at Highfield School?
In the 2023 results, pupils at Highfield School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.2 and a Progress 8 score of -1.68, well below the national average. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Highfield School's Ofsted rating?
Highfield School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2018, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Highfield School?
No fixed boundary. When Highfield School is oversubscribed, Wakefield allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Highfield School?
Highfield School has around 210 pupils on roll. 52% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Highfield School have specialist SEN provision?
Highfield School has a SEN unit for autism and severe learning difficulties: 210 places, 200 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Highfield School?
10.2% of sessions were missed at Highfield School in 2024/25. 29.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Highfield School?
Apply through Wakefield's coordinated admissions process, naming Highfield 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 Highfield School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Wakefield is 13 (the median across 157 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Highfield School?
Highfield School is at Gawthorpe Lane, Ossett, West Yorkshire, WF5 9BS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)