Oswaldtwistle White Ash School, Accrington
Oswaldtwistle White Ash School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Accrington. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Oswaldtwistle White Ash School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Oswaldtwistle White Ash School are The Willows (1.6 miles, Good); Newfield School (2 miles, Requires improvement); Park View (2.3 miles, Good); and Lower Pastures (3.5 miles, Good).
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Oswaldtwistle White Ash School (as of September 2025): 94% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Who goes there
42.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 16.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Oswaldtwistle White Ash School has an education, health and care plan (118 of 118 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Oswaldtwistle White Ash 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 Church & Oswaldtwistle Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Harlech Drive (by), 70 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Oswaldtwistle White Ash School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from January 2015, 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 April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at helping every child flourish through warm, supportive relationships and a curriculum tailored to individual needs. Staff have exceptional subject knowledge and choose activities perfectly matched to help pupils learn. The school goes beyond academics, with rich experiences like overnight stays, community visits and learning practical life skills that prepare children excellently for their future.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional relationships between staff and pupils, with deep understanding of each child's emotional and behavioural needs
- Broad, ambitious curriculum with strong subject knowledge delivery and excellent progress across all areas
- Outstanding provision for wider development including outdoor learning, life skills (shopping, cooking), and community visits
- Highly effective communication curriculum using symbols and other aids to help pupils express themselves
- Excellent attendance support and pupils' strong resilience and commitment to their education
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor learning, shopping and cooking lessons, overnight stays, community visits, Pupil Parliament, healthy living activities
Oswaldtwistle White Ash School is an exceptional special school that has maintained outstanding standards since its previous inspection. Staff place pupils' needs at the forefront, creating a nurturing environment where pupils make astonishing progress from their individual starting points.
At a Glance
42.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +9
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Oswaldtwistle White Ash School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Oswaldtwistle White Ash School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Oswaldtwistle White Ash School is in Lancashire; for families living there:
- Lancashire's school travel policy: school transport policies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 13
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 10 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
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 Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 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
157%
Over capacity
118 pupils
75 places
43 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Accrington
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Accrington
Across Lancashire council
Places available
14,702
Applications
13,782
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
97.2%
All secondary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
118
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Oswaldtwistle White Ash 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
118
Total Pupils
89
Boys
29
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
7.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,862
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.6%
Overall absence
36.9%
Persistent absence
103
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Oswaldtwistle White Ash School
Questions parents ask about Oswaldtwistle White Ash School
What are SATs results like at Oswaldtwistle White Ash School?
Of the pupils at Oswaldtwistle White Ash School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Oswaldtwistle White Ash School's Ofsted rating?
Oswaldtwistle White Ash School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Oswaldtwistle White Ash School?
No fixed boundary. When Oswaldtwistle White Ash School is oversubscribed, Lancashire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Oswaldtwistle White Ash School?
Oswaldtwistle White Ash School has around 118 pupils on roll. 42% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Oswaldtwistle White Ash School have specialist SEN provision?
Oswaldtwistle White Ash 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 Oswaldtwistle White Ash School?
10.6% of sessions were missed at Oswaldtwistle White Ash School in 2024/25. 36.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Oswaldtwistle White Ash School?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming Oswaldtwistle White Ash 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 Oswaldtwistle White Ash School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 10 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 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 Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Oswaldtwistle White Ash School?
Oswaldtwistle White Ash School is at Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 4QG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)