Knightsfield School, Welwyn Garden City
Knightsfield School is a special school for pupils aged 9 to 18 in Welwyn Garden City. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Knightsfield School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Knightsfield School are Lakeside School (2.2 miles, Outstanding); James Marks Academy (2.9 miles); Southfield School (4.5 miles, Good); and East Hall School (4.6 miles, Good).
Lakeside SchoolJames Marks AcademySouthfield SchoolEast Hall School
What parents say
19 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Knightsfield School (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 95% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (95%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 10 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 70% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 50% to a further education college and 10% into work.
Who goes there
21.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 27.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (43%), Asian (26%) and other ethnic groups (11%).
Almost every pupil at Knightsfield School has an education, health and care plan (65 of 65 in 2026). The most common need among them is hearing impairment.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Welwyn North Rail Station, about 1170 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Monk's Walk School (near), 230 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Knightsfield School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 71 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Knightsfield School issued 1 suspension, 1.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Knightsfield School excels at transforming pupils' educational experiences through expert teaching of communication and literacy skills. Pupils flourish in a positive, caring environment where they develop confidence, strong social skills, and high aspirations for their futures. The school provides an ambitious, well-designed curriculum with excellent pastoral support that helps all pupils, including those with complex needs, succeed.
Key Strengths
- Pupils learn the curriculum exceptionally well with carefully designed knowledge progression and regular checks on understanding
- Staff provide excellent support for speech and reading development, with pupils articulating themselves incredibly well
- Strong careers preparation and awareness of deaf role models help pupils develop high aspirations
- Ambitious curriculum enhanced by partnerships with local providers offering subjects like animal care and mechanics
- Excellent personal development programme building strong social skills and empathy
Areas for Improvement
- Limited workplace experience opportunities in careers provision, though the school recognizes this and is broadening engagement with the world of work
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Music, art, drama, computer coding, sport
Knightsfield School is a special school for deaf pupils using an auditory-oral approach, where students join from Year 5 and develop exceptional communication skills and confidence. The school has maintained its outstanding standards and continues to help pupils thrive educationally and personally.
At a Glance
21.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
19 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Knightsfield School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Knightsfield School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Knightsfield School is in Hertfordshire; for families living there:
- Hertfordshire's school travel policy: Read the home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 25
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 19 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 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 Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 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
108%
Over capacity
65 pupils
60 places
5 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Welwyn Garden City
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Welwyn Garden City
Across Hertfordshire council
Places available
15,222
Applications
13,456
Got 1st preference
77.5%
Got preferred school
94.9%
All secondary applications across Hertfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
65
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
65
Total Pupils
35
Boys
30
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
14
Teachers
4.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,931
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.7%
Overall absence
25.7%
Persistent absence
70
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
Knightsfield School
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Knightsfield School
What are GCSE results like at Knightsfield School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Knightsfield School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 18.1. 9% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Knightsfield School's Ofsted rating?
Knightsfield School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Knightsfield School?
No fixed boundary. When Knightsfield School is oversubscribed, Hertfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Knightsfield School?
Knightsfield School has around 65 pupils on roll. 22% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Knightsfield School?
8.7% of sessions were missed at Knightsfield School in 2024/25. 25.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Knightsfield School?
Apply through Hertfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Knightsfield 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 Knightsfield School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 19 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 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 Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Knightsfield School?
Knightsfield School is at Knightsfield, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 7LW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)