Kelford School, Rotherham
Kelford School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Rotherham, part of Nexus Multi Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Kelford School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Kelford School are Abbey School (0.8 miles, Outstanding); ROTHERHAM OPPORTUNITIES COLLEGE (2.2 miles, Good); Newman School (2.8 miles); and Lotus Academy (3 miles).
Abbey SchoolROTHERHAM OPPORTUNITIES COLLEGENewman SchoolLotus Academy
The trust
Kelford School is one of 23 schools run by Nexus Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 13 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
56.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 11% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%), Asian (7%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at Kelford School has an education, health and care plan (172 of 172 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Kelford School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Magna, about 870 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Meadow Bank Road/Jordan Crescent (adjacent), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Kelford School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 234 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 Rotherham (146), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Kelford School issued 4 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
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 December 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 December 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
56.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD
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
Social & online
Keep up with Kelford School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Kelford School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Kelford School is in Rotherham; for families living there:
Apply to Rotherham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 5 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
1 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 Rotherham is 13 (the median across 128 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
104%
Over capacity
172 pupils
165 places
7 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Rotherham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rotherham
Across Rotherham council
Places available
3,667
Applications
2,933
Got 1st preference
92.4%
Got preferred school
97.3%
All secondary applications across Rotherham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
172
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Kelford School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
172
Total Pupils
126
Boys
46
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
28
Teachers
6.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,168
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.6%
Overall absence
27.5%
Persistent absence
102
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
Kelford School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Kelford School
What are SATs results like at Kelford School?
Of the pupils at Kelford School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Kelford School's Ofsted rating?
Kelford School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Kelford School?
No fixed boundary. When Kelford School is oversubscribed, Rotherham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Kelford School?
Kelford School has around 172 pupils on roll. 56% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Kelford School have specialist SEN provision?
Kelford School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Kelford School?
9.6% of sessions were missed at Kelford School in 2024/25. 27.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Kelford School?
Apply through Rotherham's coordinated admissions process, naming Kelford 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 Kelford School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 5 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 1 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 Rotherham is 13 (the median across 128 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Kelford School?
Kelford School is at Oakdale Road, Kimberworth, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S61 2NU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)