Redwood, Rochdale
Redwood is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Rochdale. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2022 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Redwood in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Redwood are Willow View School (0.9 miles, Good); Healey Learning Centre (1.2 miles, Good); Whitehall Academy (1.3 miles); and Heywood Academy (2.1 miles).
Willow View SchoolHealey Learning CentreWhitehall AcademyHeywood Academy
Where pupils go next
Of the 39 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 3% to a further education college.
Who goes there
50.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 29.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (49%), Asian (30%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at Redwood has an education, health and care plan (365 of 365 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Redwood 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 Rochdale Interchange (Manchester Metrolink), about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Oulder Hill Leadership Academy, 310 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Redwood 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
Redwood recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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 agoThis judgement is from December 2016, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its December 2016 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
50.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +9
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Redwood
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Redwood from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Redwood is in Rochdale; for families living there:
- Rochdale's school travel policy: Home to School Transport Policy
- How to apply: Apply for school travel expenses
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 Rochdale is 10 (the median across 106 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
365 pupils
360 places
5 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Rochdale
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rochdale
Across Rochdale council
Places available
3,030
Applications
2,860
Got 1st preference
86.8%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Rochdale council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
365
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Redwood 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
365
Total Pupils
273
Boys
92
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
47
Teachers
7.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,550
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
14.2%
Overall absence
42.9%
Persistent absence
245
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
Redwood
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Redwood
What are GCSE results like at Redwood?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Redwood achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.5. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Redwood's Ofsted rating?
Redwood's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Redwood?
No fixed boundary. When Redwood is oversubscribed, Rochdale allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Redwood?
Redwood has around 365 pupils on roll. 50% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Redwood have specialist SEN provision?
Redwood 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 Redwood?
14.2% of sessions were missed at Redwood in 2024/25. 42.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Redwood?
Apply through Rochdale's coordinated admissions process, naming Redwood 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 Redwood?
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 Rochdale is 10 (the median across 106 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Redwood?
Redwood is at Hudsons Walk, Rochdale, OL11 5EW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)