Thriftwood School, Chelmsford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Thriftwood School excels at knowing each pupil exceptionally well and tailoring support to their individual needs. Teaching is ambitious and flexible, helping all pupils succeed whether through academic achievement, developing confidence as readers, gaining qualifications, or taking on community roles. The school creates a calm, safe and inclusive environment where pupils are proud to be part of the school community.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional understanding of each pupil's individual needs with highly responsive, personalized support
- Systematic and well-structured teaching of reading with pupils showing real enthusiasm and progress
- Ambitious, thoughtfully sequenced curriculum that blends academic content, life skills and personal development
- Outstanding behaviour support through consistent routines, clear expectations and positive relationships
- Excellent sixth form preparation for adulthood with meaningful work experience, enterprise and careers education
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong systems in place and a positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Community projects, workplace experiences, work experience, volunteering, enterprise opportunities
Thriftwood School is a special school for pupils aged 5-19 with SEND, operating across two sites in Chelmsford, Essex. All pupils thrive in this welcoming environment where they feel safe, valued and supported to achieve their individual goals.
At a Glance
57.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
40 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 0%. Maths has remained stable at around 0%. Writing has remained stable at around 0%.
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
105%
Over capacity
279 pupils
266 capacity
13 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Chelmsford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Chelmsford
Admissions Demand - Essex
Places available
17,576
Applications
16,788
Got 1st preference
83.8%
Got preferred school
97.1%
Secondary admissions across Essex (2025/26)
Inspection History(3)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.86515%
Overall absence
28.30189%
Persistent absence
212
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Thriftwood School
St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior School
Galleywood Infant School
Mildmay Primary School
Beehive Lane Community Primary School
Moulsham Infant School
Moulsham Junior School
Widford Lodge School
Larkrise Primary School
Oaklands Infant School
St Cedd's School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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