Welburn Hall School, York
Welburn Hall School is a special school for pupils aged 8 to 19 in York. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, ended in a report card: 5 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2022.
- Ofsted report card
- 5 of 7 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Welburn Hall School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Welburn Hall School on 7 areas: 5 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Most pupils join the school with low attendance."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "This is a highly inclusive school."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders' ambitious vision for the school is rooted in an accurate understanding of pupils' special educational needs and/or disabilities and their individual circumstances."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Pupils' personal development and wellbeing sit at the heart of the school's curriculum and its ambition to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain."
Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that the post‑16 curriculum is well organised and effectively taught, with a sharp focus on preparing students for life beyond school and into adulthood."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically achieve well academically from their individual starting points."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Staff have an in-depth understanding of each pupil's special educational needs and/or disabilities."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers consistently identify and address misconceptions in pupils' writing to secure high‑quality written work across the curriculum".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Where pupils go next
Of the 8 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 25% to a further education college.
Who goes there
57.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Welburn Hall School has an education, health and care plan (127 of 127 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Welburn Hall School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Welburn Hall School.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Welburn (se-bound), 170 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Welburn Hall School issued 7 suspensions, 6.3 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
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 · 5 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Post 16 provisionStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Welburn Hall School
Pupils at Welburn Hall have previously struggled to attend other school settings. As soon as they arrive here, they are welcomed warmly and their individual needs are met with expertise, sensitivity and compassion. Most pupils attend regularly and enjoy learning in the school's calm and nurturing rural environment. There are high expectations for pupils' behaviour and for what they can achieve. Pupils are valued as individuals and are eager to do their best and achieve well. They receive highly effective support for their special educational needs and/or disabilities and develop personally and academically. Pupils thrive because leaders ensure that the requirements of pupils' education, health and care plans are precisely matched to their individual curriculum pathway, career aspirations and required support. Staff know pupils very well. They establish positive and trusting relationships with pupils that reduce barriers to attendance and learning. Pupils receive highly effective support and resources that meet their sensory and emotional development needs. They appreciate that staff help to ease their anxiety and promote their wellbeing. Pupils' needs, interests and opinions are at the heart of all aspects of the school's provision. They take an active role in decision-making through their roles as school councillors and through the 'school forum'. Pupils recognise the significant difference the school has made to their lives and value the fresh start they make in their education. They relish caring for the animals at the school's farm and benefit from the breadth of the school's therapeutic offer, including hydrotherapy, rebound therapy and equine therapy. Pupils become increasingly confident, behave well and enjoy socialising with their friends. They know that staff keep them safe and will help them when needed. Pupils' personal development is enriched by a broad variety of local area visits, curriculum-themed trips and visitors to school. Pupils enjoy playing different sports and taking part in outdoor education opportunities. Older pupils enjoy cooking snacks to sell in the school's tuck shop and participate in work experience.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that teachers consistently identify and address misconceptions in pupils' writing to secure high‑quality written work across the curriculum.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 19 May 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Welburn Hall transforms the educational experience for children with special needs, helping pupils who previously struggled to engage develop confidence, strong attendance and a real enjoyment of school life. The school excels at creating a nurturing, inclusive environment where staff understand each child's individual needs and provide expert, personalised support. Parents particularly value how the school helps their children feel safe, accepted and cared for by passionate staff committed to helping them reach their full potential.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional approach to improving attendance through tenacious work with families and external professionals
- Highly inclusive provision with carefully personalised learning tailored to each pupil's needs
- Strong pastoral support and positive relationships at the heart of behaviour management
- Ambitious post-16 curriculum with excellent links to local employers and career opportunities
- Significant progress in pupils' communication skills, confidence and social-emotional development
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils in the early stages of learning to write do not achieve as well as they could
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Musical performances, sports competitions with other schools, horse riding, animal care, visits to museums, farms and castles, curriculum-linked workshops, work experience opportunities
Welburn Hall School is a special educational needs school in Kirkbymoorside, York, that provides highly inclusive and personalised education for pupils with significant needs. The school maintains a strong culture of safeguarding, nurture and high expectations.
At a Glance
57.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, MLD +1
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Keep up with Welburn Hall School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Welburn Hall School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Welburn Hall 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
- 1
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 0 serious and 0 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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
Area Demand Pressure - York
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for York
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(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
127
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Welburn Hall School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
127
Total Pupils
75
Boys
52
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
6.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,339
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.3%
Overall absence
27.3%
Persistent absence
88
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
Welburn Hall School
Questions parents ask about Welburn Hall School
What are GCSE results like at Welburn Hall School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Welburn Hall School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.5. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Welburn Hall School's Ofsted rating?
Welburn Hall School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Welburn Hall School?
No fixed boundary. When Welburn Hall School is oversubscribed, North Yorkshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Welburn Hall School?
Welburn Hall School has around 127 pupils on roll. 58% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Welburn Hall School have specialist SEN provision?
Welburn Hall School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Welburn Hall School?
12.3% of sessions were missed at Welburn Hall School in 2024/25. 27.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Welburn Hall School?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Welburn Hall 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 Welburn Hall School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 0 serious and 0 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Welburn Hall School?
Welburn Hall School is at Kirkbymoorside, York, North Yorkshire, YO62 7HQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)