Penn Fields School, Wolverhampton
Penn Fields School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in Wolverhampton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2023.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Penn Fields School in detail
Penn Fields School in its own words
In its own words: "Our school is a nurturing community with a strong focus on relationships, where every individual feels safe, connected, and accepted. We foster an environment of cooperation and trust, empowering everyone to thrive and celebrate diversity. Our curriculum supports holistic development, guiding each student to become the best version of themselves and prepare for a fulfilling adulthood."
Coming up: an open day on Saturday 1 May 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Wolverhampton
Vision and values (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Penn Fields School are Penn Hall School (0.9 miles); Ladybird Manor School (1 mile, selective); Aurora Cedars School (1.5 miles, Good); and Wightwick Hall School (1.6 miles, Good).
Penn Hall SchoolLadybird Manor SchoolAurora Cedars SchoolWightwick Hall School
Where pupils go next
Of the 27 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 96% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 41% to a further education college.
Who goes there
60.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 13% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Penn Fields School has an education, health and care plan (181 of 185 in 2026). The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Penn Fields School has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Wolverhampton St George's (West Midlands Metro), about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Highfields School (adjacent), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 92 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, vehicle crime and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Wolverhampton (286).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Penn Fields School issued 5 suspensions, 2.7 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; 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
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its January 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Sixth form.
At a Glance
60.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: SpLD, Speech and language, Autism +3
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Penn Fields School
Pennfields School Scoops Prestigious National Award
2 Sep 2026
Former Head Teacher's Wish to Visit Old School
1 May 2026
Meet the Tutor - 1st September
17 Jul 2025
Penn Fest 2025
10 Jul 2025
Identity at the NAC
27 Jun 2025
Coffee and Chat Dates - Autumn Term
8 Jan 2025
From Penn Fields School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Penn Fields School
Before and after school care
Penn Fields School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Wolverhampton
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Penn Fields School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Penn Fields School is in Wolverhampton; for families living there:
Apply to Wolverhampton for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
1 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 Wolverhampton is 24 (the median across 126 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
97%
Near capacity
185 pupils
190 places
5 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Wolverhampton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wolverhampton
Across Wolverhampton council
Places available
3,951
Applications
3,467
Got 1st preference
74.8%
Got preferred school
93.7%
All secondary applications across Wolverhampton council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
4
SEN Support
181
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Penn Fields School has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
185
Total Pupils
123
Boys
62
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
26
Teachers
7.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,062
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.3%
Overall absence
22.7%
Persistent absence
150
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Penn Fields School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Penn Fields School
What are GCSE results like at Penn Fields School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Penn Fields School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 2.6. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Penn Fields School's Ofsted rating?
Penn Fields School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2019 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Penn Fields School?
No fixed boundary. When Penn Fields School is oversubscribed, Wolverhampton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Penn Fields School?
Penn Fields School has around 185 pupils on roll. 61% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Penn Fields School have specialist SEN provision?
Penn Fields School has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Penn Fields School?
7.3% of sessions were missed at Penn Fields School in 2024/25. 22.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Penn Fields School?
Apply through Wolverhampton's coordinated admissions process, naming Penn Fields 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.
Does Penn Fields School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Penn Fields School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Penn Fields School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 1 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 Wolverhampton is 24 (the median across 126 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Penn Fields School?
Penn Fields School is at Boundary Way, Penn, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV4 4NT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)