Springhead School, Scarborough
Springhead School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Scarborough. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Springhead School in detail
Springhead School in its own words
In its own words: "OUR MISSION STATEMENT We provide an educational environment that enriches and enhances every child and young person’s learning and quality of life experiences, by breaking down barriers to learning and participation."
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are an all-age specialist school for cognition and learning - a community special school based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK. Our pupils have a wide range of learning needs including severe or profound learning difficulties or disabilities."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Springhead School are The Woodlands Academy (1.2 miles, Good); and Cambian Scarborough School (2.3 miles, Good).
Who goes there
61.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 5.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Springhead School has an education, health and care plan (109 of 109 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Springhead School provides for pupils with visual impairment, hearing impairment, autism, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Scarborough Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Football Stadium (s-bound), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Springhead School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 219 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Springhead School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from July 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its July 2014 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
61.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Vision, Hearing, Autism +3
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby schools
Keep up with Springhead School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Springhead School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Springhead School is in North Yorkshire; for families living there:
Apply to North Yorkshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 13
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 3
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.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 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
112%
Over capacity
109 pupils
97 places
12 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Scarborough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Scarborough
Across North Yorkshire council
Places available
7,086
Applications
5,586
Got 1st preference
91.9%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All secondary applications across North Yorkshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
109
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Springhead School provides for pupils with visual impairment, hearing impairment, autism, physical disability, 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
109
Total Pupils
73
Boys
36
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
9.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,668
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.9%
Overall absence
27.9%
Persistent absence
68
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
Questions parents ask about Springhead School
What is Springhead School's Ofsted rating?
Springhead School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Springhead School?
No fixed boundary. When Springhead School is oversubscribed, North Yorkshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Springhead School?
Springhead School has around 109 pupils on roll. 62% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Springhead School have specialist SEN provision?
Springhead School provides for pupils with visual impairment, hearing impairment, autism, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Springhead School?
8.9% of sessions were missed at Springhead School in 2024/25. 27.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Springhead School?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Springhead 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 Springhead 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. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Springhead School?
Springhead School is at Barry's Lane, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO12 4HA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)