Southfield School, Hatfield
Southfield School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Hatfield. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Southfield School in detail
Southfield School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Our vision is simple yet powerful: to support every child to thrive during their time at Southfield School and to ensure they are fully prepared - socially, emotionally and academically - for the next steps in their education and beyond. At Southfield, we pride ourselves on treating every pupil as an individual."
Coming up: an admissions event on Tuesday 2 February 2027 and an admissions event on Tuesday 18 May 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Hertfordshire
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Southfield School are Lakeside School (2.3 miles, Outstanding); James Marks Academy (2.6 miles); Rhodes Wood Hospital School (3.6 miles, Outstanding); and Knightsfield School (4.5 miles, Outstanding).
Lakeside SchoolJames Marks AcademyRhodes Wood Hospital SchoolKnightsfield School
What parents say
49 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Southfield School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Who goes there
48.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (68%), Mixed (12%) and Asian (6%).
Almost every pupil at Southfield School has an education, health and care plan (108 of 108 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Southfield School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hatfield (Herts) Rail Station, about 930 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Philip Howard School (near), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 379 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Southfield School issued 3 suspensions, 2.9 for every 100 pupils, and 1 permanent exclusion.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2012, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
The school helps pupils to overcome historical challenges to their education. As a result, pupils rebuild their confidence. Caring and dedicated staff know how to bring out the best in pupils. This helps pupils to listen, learn and get along with their peers. The school also restores parents and carers' faith in the education system. They appreciate the school's tenacity in the way it advocates for their children with external partners. All parties working together aims to ensure pupils are happy and safe.
The school provides pupils with clear strategies that help them to regulate their behaviour. For example, each pupil has a personalised plan for what they can do independently and what support they need during lunchtime. This helps them to make healthy food choices and prepares them for playing with peers. Pupils enjoy being rewarded for following school rules, such as helping peers or greeting friends politely. As a result, the school day features polite interactions, focused lessons, and a calm, happy environment.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school radiates an atmosphere of enthusiasm and excellence at every turn. Leaders have worked hard to create a culture of 'critical friends'. This approach ensures the maintenance of high standards and positive attitude towards change. Governors strike a balance between supporting and challenging the school. This encourages continuous improvement and growth. It makes the school an inspiring place for pupils to attend, parents to visit, and staff to work.
In recent years, there has been a seismic shift in the aspirations the school has for its pupils. For example, before the new leaders took up post, very few pupils could read. The introduction of a rigorous phonics programme changed this. Now, more and more pupils can read books. Many choose to read as a strategy to self-soothe when they feel overwhelmed. For pre-verbal pupils, staff use picture-based communication systems to good effect. These allow pupils to show their knowledge of letter sounds and word meanings.
From Ofsted's July 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2012 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
48.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
49 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
Latest from Southfield School
Celebrating Poetry at Southfield
1 Oct 2026
National NonSpeaking/Nonverbal Awareness Day: Every Voice Matters
30 Sep 2026
Celebrating National Teaching Assistant Day
25 Sep 2026
Making Waves at Southfield: Building Skills for Life Through Swimming
24 Sep 2026
Equine Therapy Journey Begins for Another Group of Southfield Pupils
23 Sep 2026
Southfield School Launches An Online Safety Workshop
22 Sep 2026
From Southfield School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Southfield School
Before and after school care
Southfield 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 Hertfordshire
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Southfield School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Southfield School is in Hertfordshire; for families living there:
- Hertfordshire's school travel policy: Read the home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 25
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 2 serious and 22 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
11 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 Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 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
108%
Over capacity
108 pupils
100 places
8 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Hatfield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hatfield
Across Hertfordshire council
Places available
15,222
Applications
13,456
Got 1st preference
77.5%
Got preferred school
94.9%
All secondary applications across Hertfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
108
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Southfield School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
108
Total Pupils
82
Boys
26
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
6.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,609
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.8%
Overall absence
16.3%
Persistent absence
98
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Southfield School
Questions parents ask about Southfield School
What are SATs results like at Southfield School?
Of the pupils at Southfield School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Southfield School's Ofsted rating?
Southfield School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Southfield School?
No fixed boundary. When Southfield School is oversubscribed, Hertfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Southfield School?
Southfield School has around 108 pupils on roll. 48% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Southfield School have specialist SEN provision?
Southfield School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Southfield School?
7.8% of sessions were missed at Southfield School in 2024/25. 16.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Southfield School?
Apply through Hertfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Southfield 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 Southfield School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Southfield 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 Southfield School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 2 serious and 22 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 11 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 Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Southfield School?
Southfield School is at Woods Avenue, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 8NN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)