The Forest School, Knaresborough
The Forest School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 16 in Knaresborough, part of Wellspring Academy Trust. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2023. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2023)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Forest School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Forest School are Springwater Academy (1.9 miles); Henshaws College (2.2 miles, Good); and Strive for Education (3.6 miles, Good).
The trust
The Forest School is one of 33 schools run by Wellspring Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
41 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Forest School (as of September 2025): 93% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 75% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (75%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 15 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 47% to a further education college.
Who goes there
40.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 7.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Forest School has an education, health and care plan (155 of 155 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
The Forest School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Knaresborough Rail Station, about 1140 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Manor Crescent (opposite), 310 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Forest School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 61 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 North Yorkshire (9), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Forest School issued 5 suspensions, 3.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Forest School excels at supporting pupils' behaviour and emotional wellbeing, creating a calm and inclusive environment where all children feel valued and safe. Staff develop strong relationships with pupils and skilfully support them to manage challenges. The school provides rich personal development opportunities including horse riding, choir, farm visits, and real work experience that build confidence and prepare pupils for life after school.
Key Strengths
- Excellent behaviour support with highly effective strategies that help pupils regulate themselves and manage their own behaviour as they get older
- Outstanding personal development programme including leadership roles, diversity celebrations, and real-life career experiences
- Strong, inclusive curriculum carefully tailored to each pupil's individual needs with well-embedded communication strategies across the school
- Positive relationships between pupils and staff, with pupils showing exceptional attitudes to learning and enjoying coming to school
- Comprehensive preparation for adulthood starting from early years, including work experience and careers guidance
Areas for Improvement
- Reading skills beyond word reading need development - pupils are not given enough opportunities to re-read and practise, limiting their fluency and confidence
- Writing curriculum lacks sufficient focus on technical skills such as spelling, punctuation, grammar and handwriting
- Staff need further training and expertise to ensure all pupils develop necessary reading and writing skills across the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong procedures in place to keep pupils safe and leaders who prioritise pupil welfare.
Extracurricular Activities
Horse riding, choir, farm visits, enrichment days, work experience, careers advice programme
The Forest School is a special school for pupils aged 2-16 with various learning needs and disabilities. The school has made significant progress since its last inspection and now provides good quality education with outstanding behaviour and attitudes.
At a Glance
40.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Hearing +6
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
41 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2023/24KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2023/24 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby schools
Keep up with The Forest School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Forest School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Forest 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)
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 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
122%
Over capacity
155 pupils
127 places
28 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Knaresborough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Knaresborough
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(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
155
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Forest School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
155
Total Pupils
107
Boys
48
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
8.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£59,785
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.3%
Overall absence
29.1%
Persistent absence
148
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 The Forest School
What are SATs results like at The Forest School?
Of the pupils at The Forest School who took the 2024 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is The Forest School's Ofsted rating?
The Forest School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2023, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for The Forest School?
No fixed boundary. When The Forest School is oversubscribed, North Yorkshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Forest School?
The Forest School has around 155 pupils on roll. 41% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Forest School have specialist SEN provision?
The Forest School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at The Forest School?
10.3% of sessions were missed at The Forest School in 2024/25. 29.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Forest School?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming The Forest 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 The Forest 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 North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Forest School?
The Forest School is at Park Lane, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 0DQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)