Windlehurst School, Stockport
Windlehurst School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Stockport. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2022.
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Windlehurst School in detail
Windlehurst School in its own words
In its own words: "Staff, students, parents and governors all contributed to this vision of education at Windlehurst School. Because many of the students have experienced significant difficulty finding their place in our society there are some very specific aims and outcomes of the education we offer."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Windlehurst School are Acorns School (0.9 miles, Requires improvement); Castle Hill High School (2.7 miles, Outstanding); Agricultural and Rural Centre (2.8 miles); and Lisburne School (2.8 miles).
Acorns SchoolCastle Hill High SchoolAgricultural and Rural CentreLisburne School
Where pupils go next
Of the 10 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 20% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 10% to a further education college and 20% into work.
Who goes there
69.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (89%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at Windlehurst School has an education, health and care plan (65 of 65 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Windlehurst School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Strines Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Windlehurst School (opposite), 40 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Windlehurst School issued 23 suspensions, 42.6 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2022 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
69.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Windlehurst School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Windlehurst School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Windlehurst School is in Stockport; for families living there:
Apply to Stockport for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
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 Stockport is 8 (the median across 135 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
108%
Over capacity
65 pupils
60 places
5 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Stockport
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stockport
Across Stockport council
Places available
3,325
Applications
3,368
Got 1st preference
79.9%
Got preferred school
94.2%
All secondary applications across Stockport council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(11)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
65
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Windlehurst School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
65
Total Pupils
62
Boys
3
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
5.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,238
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
46.7%
Overall absence
83.9%
Persistent absence
62
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 Windlehurst School
What are GCSE results like at Windlehurst School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Windlehurst School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 6.7. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Windlehurst School's Ofsted rating?
Windlehurst School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2022.
What is the catchment area for Windlehurst School?
No fixed boundary. When Windlehurst School is oversubscribed, Stockport allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Windlehurst School?
Windlehurst School has around 65 pupils on roll. 69% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Windlehurst School have specialist SEN provision?
Windlehurst School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Windlehurst School?
46.7% of sessions were missed at Windlehurst School in 2024/25. 83.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Windlehurst School?
Apply through Stockport's coordinated admissions process, naming Windlehurst 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 Windlehurst School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 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 Stockport is 8 (the median across 135 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Windlehurst School?
Windlehurst School is at Windlehurst Road, Hawk Green, Stockport, Cheshire, SK6 7HZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)