Options Higford, Shifnal
Options Higford is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in Shifnal.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Options Higford in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Options Higford are Haughton School (3.8 miles, Good); Lamledge School (4.1 miles); The Gables Learning Centre (5 miles, Good); and Southall School (5.4 miles, Good).
Haughton SchoolLamledge SchoolThe Gables Learning CentreSouthall School
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Options Higford has an education, health and care plan (69 of 69 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Cosford Rail Station, about 4 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Shropshire (10).
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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Options Higford excels at supporting pupils with autism through small class sizes, highly trained staff, and specialist facilities. The school has thoughtfully expanded its premises to accommodate more pupils while maintaining the quality of provision and safeguarding standards. Leaders demonstrate strong commitment to the wellbeing and education of all pupils, with excellent working relationships with local authority services.
Key Strengths
- Strong safeguarding culture with well-trained staff and effective reporting systems -
- Comprehensive health and safety policies with regular detailed checks -
- High-quality refurbished buildings including new classrooms, sports facilities, and sensory spaces -
- Excellent staff to pupil ratios with class sizes of five or below -
- Thorough risk assessments completed for all new buildings and facilities
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - the school has a strong culture of safeguarding with well-trained staff, established reporting systems, and clear understanding of vulnerabilities for pupils with SEND.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports facilities, gym equipment, playground activities
Options Higford is an independent special school for pupils with autism aged 5-19, all with education, health and care plans. The school has applied to increase pupil numbers from 60 to 80 and is likely to meet all relevant independent school standards.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Options Higford
Welcome Back!
1 Sep 2026
Autumn 1 25/26 Newsletter
9 Jun 2026
Autumn 2 2026 Newsletter
9 Jun 2026
Spring 2 2026 Newsletter
9 Jun 2026
Summer 1 2026 Newsletter
9 Jun 2026
Summer 2 Newsletter 2025
9 Oct 2025
From Options Higford's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Options Higford
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 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
86%
Available places
69 pupils
80 places
11 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Shifnal
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Shifnal
Across Shropshire council
Places available
3,213
Applications
2,845
Got 1st preference
91.0%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All secondary applications across Shropshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
69
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Options Higford is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
69
Total Pupils
53
Boys
16
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Options Higford
Questions parents ask about Options Higford
How many pupils go to Options Higford?
Options Higford has around 69 pupils on roll.
Does Options Higford have specialist SEN provision?
Options Higford is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Options Higford?
Options Higford is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Options Higford?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Options Higford?
Options Higford is at Higford Hall, Higford, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 9ET.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)