Hollybank School, Mirfield
Hollybank School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Mirfield. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Hollybank School in detail
Hollybank School in its own words
In its own words: "Hollybank Trust is a charity based in West and South Yorkshire and we are proud of our reputation for excellence over our rich history. Our mission statement is to provide education, residential care, plus a range of therapies and enrichment activities for children, young people and adults with profound and multiple disabilities."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Hollybank School are Fields Rise School (2.4 miles, Good); Pivot Academy (2.5 miles); Fairfield School (2.7 miles, Good); and Ravenshall School (2.8 miles, Outstanding).
Fields Rise SchoolPivot AcademyFairfield SchoolRavenshall School
Who goes there
44.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 14% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 9 pupils (20.9%) received SEN support and 34 (79.1%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is a profound and multiple learning difficulty.
Hollybank School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Mirfield Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hollybank School (at), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 74 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kirklees (153).
Suspensions and exclusions
Hollybank School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from October 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Hollybank School provides an exceptional, caring environment where staff know your child extremely well and tailor every aspect of learning to their individual needs. The school takes a truly holistic approach, connecting subject learning with physical, medical and emotional support through a team of teachers, therapists and health professionals. Parents consistently praise the school's amazing support, strong family atmosphere and excellent communication about their child's progress.
Key Strengths
- Highly specialised, individualised curriculum matched to each pupil's specific needs with a holistic approach involving health professionals, therapists and teaching staff
- Exceptional staff expertise in supporting communication, emotional regulation and behaviour management through highly effective relationships built on trust
- Expert understanding of how to develop pupils' physical awareness, sensory learning and earliest stages of communication and interaction
- Strong sense of family throughout the school with staff who are deeply motivated and well-supported
- Excellent partnerships with parents, including networking events and ongoing communication about children's learning
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Horse riding, cooking, swimming, trampoline therapy, library visits, shopping trips, cafe visits, hairdresser visits
Hollybank School continues to be an outstanding school that provides an inspirational, safe and nurturing environment where pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties thrive. The school has high expectations for all pupils and delivers a rich, broad learning experience tailored to each child's complex individual needs.
At a Glance
44.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Physical, MLD +2
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Hollybank School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hollybank School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hollybank School is in Kirklees; for families living there:
- Kirklees's school travel policy: School transport
- How to apply: Apply for school travel support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
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, 2 serious and 4 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Kirklees is 12 (the median across 203 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
96%
Near capacity
43 pupils
45 places
2 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Mirfield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Mirfield
Across Kirklees council
Places available
4,930
Applications
4,787
Got 1st preference
89.2%
Got preferred school
97.8%
All secondary applications across Kirklees council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
9
SEN Support
34
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Hollybank School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, 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
43
Total Pupils
26
Boys
17
Girls
2026 academic year
Pupil Absence2024/25
17.8%
Overall absence
53.6%
Persistent absence
28
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
Hollybank School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Hollybank School
What is Hollybank School's Ofsted rating?
Hollybank School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Hollybank School?
No fixed boundary. When Hollybank School is oversubscribed, Kirklees allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hollybank School?
Hollybank School has around 43 pupils on roll. 44% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Hollybank School have specialist SEN provision?
Hollybank School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Hollybank School?
17.8% of sessions were missed at Hollybank School in 2024/25. 53.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hollybank School?
Apply through Kirklees's coordinated admissions process, naming Hollybank 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 Hollybank 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, 2 serious and 4 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Kirklees is 12 (the median across 203 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hollybank School?
Hollybank School is at Roe Head, Far Common Road, Mirfield, West Yorkshire, WF14 0DQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)