Larwood School, Stevenage
Larwood School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Stevenage, part of Brighter Futures Educational Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2022.
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Larwood School in detail
Larwood School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Larwood Primary School aims to provide a nurturing environment for children with social, emotional and mental health-related issues. We also have pupils with autistic spectrum condition and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosed as part of their special educational needs."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Larwood School are Lonsdale School (0.7 miles, Good); The Valley School (1.4 miles, Good); Greenside School (1.6 miles, Good); and East Hall School (3.4 miles, Good).
Lonsdale SchoolThe Valley SchoolGreenside SchoolEast Hall School
The trust
Larwood School is one of 2 schools run by Brighter Futures Educational Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
57% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (87%) and Mixed (8%).
In 2026, 11 pupils (7.3%) received SEN support and 140 (92.7%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Larwood School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Stevenage Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Larwood School (outside), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 468 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Larwood School issued 3 suspensions, 2.6 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
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 · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2022 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
57.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
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
Keep up with Larwood School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Larwood School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Larwood 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
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 6 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
2 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
93%
Near capacity
151 pupils
163 places
12 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Stevenage
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stevenage
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)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
11
SEN Support
140
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Larwood School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
151
Total Pupils
128
Boys
23
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
6.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,631
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.0%
Overall absence
32.8%
Persistent absence
122
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about Larwood School
What are SATs results like at Larwood School?
Of the pupils at Larwood School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Larwood School's Ofsted rating?
Larwood School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022.
What is the catchment area for Larwood School?
No fixed boundary. When Larwood School is oversubscribed, Hertfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Larwood School?
Larwood School has around 151 pupils on roll. 57% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Larwood School have specialist SEN provision?
Larwood School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Larwood School?
12% of sessions were missed at Larwood School in 2024/25. 32.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Larwood School?
Apply through Hertfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Larwood 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 Larwood School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 6 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 2 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 Larwood School?
Larwood School is at Larwood Drive, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 5BZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)