Overley Hall School, Telford
Overley Hall School is a special school for pupils aged 8 to 19 in Telford. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, ended in a report card: 6 strong standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2023.
- Ofsted report card
- 6 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Overley Hall School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 3 March 2026 inspection grades Overley Hall School on 6 areas: 6 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve consistently well from their starting points."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "The school promotes high attendance."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "The school's approach to inclusion is well organised and highly effective."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "The proprietor has clear systems in place to oversee the school's statutory duties and evaluate the quality of school provision."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed a comprehensive personal development programme that is central to school life."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff consistently use the most effective teaching strategies, so that all staff implement the high-quality, effective teaching that pupils experience most of the time".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Overley Hall School in its own words
In its own words: "Overley Hall comprises of Overley Hall School, Wellingtonia Children’s home, the Lodge and an adult home the Woodlands. Overley Hall School is an independent special school for pupils between the ages of 8 and 19 who have autism, learning disabilities and a range of complex needs."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Overley Hall School are Rodenhurst School (3.2 miles, Good); The Bridge School (3.7 miles, Outstanding); The Seeds School (4.4 miles, Good); and Aspris Telford School (5.5 miles, Good).
Rodenhurst SchoolThe Bridge SchoolThe Seeds SchoolAspris Telford School
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Overley Hall School has an education, health and care plan (18 of 18 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wellington (Shropshire) Rail Station, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 5 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other crime, other theft and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Telford and Wrekin (139).
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 · 7 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since January 2026 for independent schools)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Overley Hall School
Pupils thrive at this school. The level of care that staff provide makes a significant difference to pupils' lives. Many pupils face complex barriers to learning and join the school with very low starting points. Some pupils have profound learning difficulties and require specialist help. Staff understand these needs and do all they can to help pupils flourish. Pupils benefit greatly from positive relationships with staff. Teachers promote pupils' unique talents and support pupils to achieve their best. School is a calm and happy place where pupils feel safe and secure. The school's nurturing environment has a big impact on pupils' wellbeing. Pupils share plenty of smiles and laughter with each other throughout the school day. Pupils study a curriculum that is carefully designed to meet their needs. Pupils learn how to communicate and develop knowledge of various subjects. The curriculum prepares pupils well for life in modern Britain. Pupils make significant strides in their learning and are well prepared for their next steps. Pupils' enjoyment at school is reflected in their very high attendance. Pupils welcome visitors with enthusiasm and show pride in their work. Pupils make keen use of the school's extensive grounds and facilities. They enjoy various outdoor learning opportunities and sensory activities. The school nurtures pupils' individual interests and talents. Staff arrange a broad range of activities to promote pupils' independence. For example, pupils learn to prepare meals and complete household tasks in the school's 'independent living suite'. Some pupils enjoy health and beauty activities while others embrace leadership responsibilities. These responsibilities include helping in the farm shop and coordinating the daily café trolley deliveries. Pupils understand the school's routines and know what to expect each day. They behave well and focus on their learning. Pupils do not experience bullying. If behaviour concerns do arise, staff act swiftly and effectively to address those concerns.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that staff consistently use the most effective teaching strategies, so that all staff implement the high-quality, effective teaching that pupils experience most of the time.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 3 March 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Overley Hall School excels at nurturing pupils with complex learning needs and helping them thrive. Staff create a calm, happy environment where pupils feel safe and develop confidence, with many experiencing academic success for the first time. The school prepares pupils exceptionally well for adult life through practical skills development and careers education, supporting their transition to greater independence.
Key Strengths
- Pupils make significant progress in their learning from their starting points, with many developing communication and literacy skills for the first time
- Staff have deep understanding of each pupil's individual needs and use carefully planned strategies to create a calm, positive learning environment
- The school has a well-designed curriculum that breaks knowledge into small steps, with strong focus on mathematics, reading and writing
- Excellent inclusion practices with detailed assessment of pupils' needs and collaborative working between teachers, therapists and clinical staff
- Strong leadership with clear systems for oversight and a focus on developing staff expertise and wellbeing
Areas for Improvement
- Very occasionally some staff do not select the most appropriate teaching strategies or activities to secure pupils' learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, all legal requirements are met, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Independent living suite (cooking, shopping, household tasks), health and beauty activities, farm shop work, school cafe coordination, school council, outdoor learning opportunities, sensory activities
Overley Hall School is a special school in Wellington, Telford that provides education for pupils with severe or profound learning difficulties. The school has been rated as having a strong standard across all areas of inspection.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Overley Hall School
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 Telford and Wrekin is 7 (the median across 86 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
75%
Available places
18 pupils
24 places
6 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Telford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Telford
Across Telford and Wrekin council
Places available
2,604
Applications
2,281
Got 1st preference
76.1%
Got preferred school
90.4%
All secondary applications across Telford and Wrekin council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(11)
Independent School standard inspection
Met all the independent school standards.
Independent School standard inspection
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
18
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Overley Hall School 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
18
Total Pupils
12
Boys
6
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Overley Hall School
Questions parents ask about Overley Hall School
What is Overley Hall School's Ofsted rating?
Overley Hall School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2023, it was rated Good.
Does Overley Hall School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in March 2026, Overley Hall School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Overley Hall School?
Overley Hall School has around 18 pupils on roll.
Does Overley Hall School have specialist SEN provision?
Overley Hall School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Overley Hall School?
Overley Hall School 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 Overley Hall School?
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 Telford and Wrekin is 7 (the median across 86 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Overley Hall School?
Overley Hall School is at Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, TF6 5HE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)