Lady Zia Wernher School, Luton
Lady Zia Wernher School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Luton. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Lady Zia Wernher School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Lady Zia Wernher School are Richmond Hill School (0.8 miles, Good); Lime Academy Hartwell (1 mile); Active Support Education Centre (1.7 miles, Good); and Woodlands Secondary School (2.7 miles, Outstanding).
Richmond Hill SchoolLime Academy HartwellActive Support Education CentreWoodlands Secondary School
Who goes there
35.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 33.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (58%), White British (13%) and Mixed (8%).
Almost every pupil at Lady Zia Wernher School has an education, health and care plan (264 of 264 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Lady Zia Wernher School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Luton Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Brays Road (ne-bound), 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Lady Zia Wernher School issued 1 suspension, 0.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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 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
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its October 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
35.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +9
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
Latest from Lady Zia Wernher School
Summer 1 Newsletter 2026 20.05.26
20 May 2026
Spring 1 Newsletter 2026 30.01.26
30 Jan 2026
Autumn2 newsletter 2025 -17.12.25
17 Dec 2025
Autumn 1 newsletter 02.10.2025
2 Oct 2025
From Lady Zia Wernher School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Lady Zia Wernher School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lady Zia Wernher School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lady Zia Wernher School is in Luton; for families living there:
- Luton's school travel policy: Travel assistance policy for 0 to 25 year olds in education
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 28
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 28 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 1 serious and 26 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
12 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 Luton is 28 (the median across 79 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
99%
Near capacity
264 pupils
265 places
1 spare place
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Luton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Luton
Across Luton council
Places available
3,303
Applications
2,972
Got 1st preference
82.8%
Got preferred school
95.5%
All secondary applications across Luton council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
264
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Lady Zia Wernher School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, 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
264
Total Pupils
167
Boys
97
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
38
Teachers
6.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,916
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
15.4%
Overall absence
49.0%
Persistent absence
202
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Lady Zia Wernher School
Questions parents ask about Lady Zia Wernher School
What are SATs results like at Lady Zia Wernher School?
Of the pupils at Lady Zia Wernher School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Lady Zia Wernher School's Ofsted rating?
Lady Zia Wernher School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, 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 Lady Zia Wernher School?
No fixed boundary. When Lady Zia Wernher School is oversubscribed, Luton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Lady Zia Wernher School?
Lady Zia Wernher School has around 264 pupils on roll. 36% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Lady Zia Wernher School have specialist SEN provision?
Lady Zia Wernher School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Lady Zia Wernher School?
15.4% of sessions were missed at Lady Zia Wernher School in 2024/25. 49% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lady Zia Wernher School?
Apply through Luton's coordinated admissions process, naming Lady Zia Wernher 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 Lady Zia Wernher School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 28 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 1 serious and 26 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 12 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 Luton is 28 (the median across 79 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Lady Zia Wernher School?
Lady Zia Wernher School is at Ashcroft Road, Stopsley, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 9AY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)