Millwood Primary Special School, Bury
Millwood Primary Special School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Bury. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Millwood Primary Special School in detail
Millwood Primary Special School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "The children and staff at Millwood welcome you to our incredible school. At Millwood, every child is unique, valued and capable of achieving great things. Our school is nurturing and inclusive. Children are supported to develop their communication, confidence, independence and love of learning. Interactions are joyful. ‘Open up the world for our school, family and community."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Millwood Primary Special School are Imagine Wellbeing Primary Ltd (0.5 miles); Ladywood School (1.3 miles, Outstanding); Elms Bank (1.9 miles, Outstanding); and Forestwood School (2 miles, Good).
Imagine Wellbeing Primary LtdLadywood SchoolElms BankForestwood School
Who goes there
41.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 19.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Millwood Primary Special School has an education, health and care plan (192 of 192 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Millwood Primary Special 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 tram or metro stop is Radcliffe (Manchester Metrolink), about 920 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Turf Street (opposite), 330 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Millwood Primary Special School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Millwood Primary Special School issued 1 suspension, 0.6 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from February 2013, 13 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
From Ofsted's July 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Millwood Primary is a caring, inclusive place where every child feels they belong and thrive. The school has no limits on what children can achieve - with expert teaching, personalised support, and a carefully designed curriculum that prepares pupils exceptionally well for their future. Staff are highly attuned to each child's feelings and needs, creating a calm environment where behaviour is excellent and every child has a voice.
Key Strengths
- Highly effective and ambitious curriculum with clear learning pathways tailored to each pupil's needs
- Exemplary behaviour and calm, orderly environment with skilled staff support for pupils' emotional needs
- Strong focus on communication - systematic approach from early years using visual signing and picture-based systems
- Reading and literacy embedded throughout with determination that all pupils who can will read by end of key stage 2
- Exceptional range of clubs and community activities including football, singing, junk modelling, transport club and wellie walking
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with a strong safeguarding culture integral to all school does - staff are well-trained, vigilant in identifying risks, and tenacious advocates who engage well with external agencies.
Extracurricular Activities
football, singing, signing, junk modelling, transport club, wellie walking, Millwood Milestones activities and experiences, local community projects
Millwood Primary Special School continues to be an outstanding school that is highly inclusive and inspiring. Pupils feel very safe, thrive with strong staff relationships, and benefit from an ambitious curriculum with no ceiling on their success.
At a Glance
41.7%
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 Millwood Primary Special School
Millwood News 25 09 2026 2
2 Oct 2026
Millwood News 18 09 2026 1
2 Oct 2026
Millwood News 11 09 2026 1
2 Oct 2026
From Millwood Primary Special School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Millwood Primary Special School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Millwood Primary Special School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Millwood Primary Special School is in Bury; for families living there:
Apply to Bury for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 25
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 8
- 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: 1 fatal, 8 serious and 16 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 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 Bury is 10 (the median across 92 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
101%
Over capacity
192 pupils
190 places
2 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Bury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bury
Across Bury council
Places available
2,444
Applications
2,233
Got 1st preference
90.7%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All secondary applications across Bury council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
192
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Millwood Primary Special 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
192
Total Pupils
143
Boys
49
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
29
Teachers
6.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£60,472
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.6%
Overall absence
39.9%
Persistent absence
168
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Millwood Primary Special School
Questions parents ask about Millwood Primary Special School
What are SATs results like at Millwood Primary Special School?
Of the pupils at Millwood Primary Special School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Millwood Primary Special School's Ofsted rating?
Millwood Primary Special School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Millwood Primary Special School?
No fixed boundary. When Millwood Primary Special School is oversubscribed, Bury allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Millwood Primary Special School?
Millwood Primary Special School has around 192 pupils on roll. 42% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Millwood Primary Special School have specialist SEN provision?
Millwood Primary Special 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 Millwood Primary Special School?
12.6% of sessions were missed at Millwood Primary Special School in 2024/25. 39.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Millwood Primary Special School?
Apply through Bury's coordinated admissions process, naming Millwood Primary Special 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 Millwood Primary Special School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 8 serious and 16 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 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 Bury is 10 (the median across 92 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Millwood Primary Special School?
Millwood Primary Special School is at School Street, Radcliffe, Bury, Greater Manchester, M26 3BW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)