Holmwood School, Middlesbrough
Holmwood School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Middlesbrough. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Holmwood School in detail
Holmwood School in its own words
In its own words: "Provide a high quality service for parents and families of Middlesbrough and district whose children have Special Educational Needs. Extend our children’s knowledge, skills and understanding through a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum. Be available for the children and their families within a caring and supportive atmosphere."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Holmwood School : The quality of education is Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes is Outstanding Personal development is Outstanding Leadership and management is Outstanding Holmwood is a primary school for children with a wide range of special needs."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Holmwood School are Discovery Special Academy (0.8 miles, Good); Beverley School (0.9 miles, Good); Beverley School (0.9 miles); and Hollis Academy (0.9 miles, Good).
Discovery Special AcademyBeverley SchoolBeverley SchoolHollis Academy
Who goes there
74% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (93%) and Mixed (5%).
Almost every pupil at Holmwood School has an education, health and care plan (100 of 100 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Holmwood School has a resourced provision for social, emotional and mental health needs: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Marton Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Weymouth Avenue (a), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 330 crimes within a mile of the school, most often shoplifting, violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Middlesbrough (532).
Suspensions and exclusions
Holmwood 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2012, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils are extremely well supported at Holmwood School. The school has high expectations for what pupils can achieve. They receive an exceptional quality of education. Pupils who have had previously difficult school experiences flourish. They achieve very well and leave the school well prepared for their next steps in education.
Staff, led by inspirational leaders, have created a nurturing learning environment. They ensure that the school consistently focuses on meeting the individual needs of pupils. All pupils benefit from an educational offer that is carefully designed to meet their special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This means that pupils progress through the curriculum well.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Pupils learn a rich and well-developed curriculum. Teachers and support staff are knowledgeable. They share a determination that all pupils will progress academically and socially. This includes those pupils who attend the school's specially resourced provision. Staff expertly meet the academic needs of all pupils. For example, they successfully target reading and phonics support to ensure all pupils improve their reading accuracy and fluency. Effective learning interventions strengthen pupils' writing skills and mathematical knowledge. These ensure that pupils with gaps in their knowledge can catch up and keep up with learning. Pupils' work builds in complexity over time. Staff ensure that pupils remember important knowledge and learn to apply it independently. They are given meaningful opportunities to apply knowledge and skills across subjects. This helps pupils to take ownership of their learning and feel pride in the achievements they make.
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 November 2012 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
74.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 59% to 40% (2024 to 2025), while maths has remained stable at around 47% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Holmwood School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Holmwood School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Holmwood School is in Middlesbrough; for families living there:
Apply to Middlesbrough for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 13
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 8 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 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 Middlesbrough is 14 (the median across 64 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
118%
Over capacity
100 pupils
85 places
15 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Middlesbrough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Middlesbrough
Across Middlesbrough council
Places available
1,884
Applications
1,913
Got 1st preference
84.3%
Got preferred school
96.3%
All secondary applications across Middlesbrough council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
100
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Holmwood School has a resourced provision for social, emotional and mental health needs: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
100
Total Pupils
77
Boys
23
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
6.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,813
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.7%
Overall absence
16.3%
Persistent absence
104
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Holmwood School
Questions parents ask about Holmwood School
What are SATs results like at Holmwood School?
Of the pupils at Holmwood School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 40% reached the expected standard in reading and 47% did so in maths.
What is Holmwood School's Ofsted rating?
Holmwood School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Holmwood School?
No fixed boundary. When Holmwood School is oversubscribed, Middlesbrough allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Holmwood School?
Holmwood School has around 100 pupils on roll. 74% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Holmwood School have specialist SEN provision?
Holmwood School has a resourced provision for social, emotional and mental health needs: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Holmwood School?
5.7% of sessions were missed at Holmwood School in 2024/25. 16.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Holmwood School?
Apply through Middlesbrough's coordinated admissions process, naming Holmwood 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 Holmwood School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 8 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 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 Middlesbrough is 14 (the median across 64 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Holmwood School?
Holmwood School is at Saltersgill Avenue, Easterside, Middlesbrough, TS4 3PT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)