Westfield Arts College, Weymouth
Westfield Arts College is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Weymouth. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2011. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2011)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Westfield Arts College in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Westfield Arts College are Wyvern Academy (1.5 miles, Good); Arbour House School (1.9 miles, Outstanding); and Kingfisher School (2.6 miles).
Where pupils go next
Of the 32 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 97% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 13% to a further education college.
Who goes there
50.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (94%) and Mixed (5%).
Almost every pupil at Westfield Arts College has an education, health and care plan (233 of 233 in 2026). The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.
Westfield Arts College provides for pupils with autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Upwey Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Westfield College (w-bound), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Westfield Arts College stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. 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 other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Dorset (25), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Westfield Arts College issued 25 suspensions, 10.7 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from September 2011, 15 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 September 2011 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
50.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby schools
Keep up with Westfield Arts College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Westfield Arts College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Westfield Arts College is in Dorset; for families living there:
Apply to Dorset for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 1 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 Dorset is 3 (the median across 184 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 - Weymouth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Weymouth
Across Dorset council
Places available
2,797
Applications
2,105
Got 1st preference
97.9%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All secondary applications across Dorset council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
233
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Westfield Arts College provides for pupils with autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
233
Total Pupils
171
Boys
62
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
36
Teachers
6.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,162
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.0%
Overall absence
19.8%
Persistent absence
177
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 Westfield Arts College
What are SATs results like at Westfield Arts College?
Of the pupils at Westfield Arts College who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Westfield Arts College's Ofsted rating?
Westfield Arts College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2011, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Westfield Arts College?
No fixed boundary. When Westfield Arts College is oversubscribed, Dorset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Westfield Arts College?
Westfield Arts College has around 233 pupils on roll. 50% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Westfield Arts College have specialist SEN provision?
Westfield Arts College provides for pupils with autism and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Westfield Arts College?
8% of sessions were missed at Westfield Arts College in 2024/25. 19.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Westfield Arts College?
Apply through Dorset's coordinated admissions process, naming Westfield Arts College 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 Westfield Arts College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 1 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Dorset is 3 (the median across 184 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Westfield Arts College?
Westfield Arts College is at Littlemoor Road, Preston, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 6AA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)