Wolfdale School, LEICESTERSHIRE
Wolfdale School is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 16 in Leicestershire. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2026, ended in a report card: 6 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2023.
- Ofsted report card
- 0 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Wolfdale School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 24 February 2026 inspection grades Wolfdale School on 6 areas: 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Expected standard. "Many pupils arrive at Wolfdale having missed a lot of education or have found school difficult in the past."
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders strive to improve pupils' attendance."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders think carefully about how they design the curriculum."
Inclusion - Expected standard. "Staff take time to really understand each pupil and what they need."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The proprietor leads the school with a strong moral purpose."
Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide a well‑planned personal development programme."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should further refine their systems and analysis for school performance, so that the proprietor can continue to sharpen its understanding of the effectiveness of the school"; "Leaders should continue to strengthen teachers' subject knowledge so the curriculum is delivered consistently well in all subjects and across all key stages"; "Leaders should enable pupils to develop greater confidence and enjoyment in writing by ensuring staff identify and address gaps in pupils' foundational knowledge, so that pupils can apply the knowledge and skills they are taught with increasing independence".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Wolfdale School in its own words
In its own words: "No but they need to have an EHCP. We work with Young People with no ASD diagnosis but that of ADHD, SEMH and anxiety etc. My child does not leave the house, is it worth looking at you?"
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Wolfdale School are Educ8 Leicestershire (2.3 miles, Requires improvement); West Gate School (2.5 miles, Good); ALP Leicester (2.9 miles, Good); and Spark Vale Academy (3.1 miles, Inadequate).
Educ8 LeicestershireWest Gate SchoolALP LeicesterSpark Vale Academy
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Wolfdale School has an education, health and care plan (60 of 60 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Leicester North (Great Central Railway), about 2.2 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Indian Restaurant (adjacent), 10 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 100 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Leicestershire (58), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since January 2026 for independent schools)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Wolfdale School
Pupils feel safe and well supported at Wolfdale School. Many arrive having had disrupted education or difficult past experiences. They quickly learn that adults listen to them and understand their needs. Pupils say they have trusted adults, who help them manage their emotions and describe the school as a place where their feelings are understood. This helps them settle, feel ready to learn and grow in confidence. They say that the school is friendly and that any worries are dealt with quickly. Pupils explain that they ‘fit' here and can be themselves, giving them a strong sense of identity and belonging that they did not have before. Many look forward to visits from the emotional support dogs, which help them relax, regulate and settle to their work. Pupils enjoy learning. They are proud of the progress they make in reading, and daily practise builds their confidence. They like learning new things and working with friends, which helps them develop independence, teamwork and resilience. From their starting points, pupils become more confident learners. They develop positive learning habits, attend more regularly and begin to take pride in what they can achieve. Pupils learn how to be respectful and responsible members of their community. The school's vocational offer gives pupils meaningful experiences of the workplace and helps them understand responsibility, teamwork and preparation for life in modern Britain. Around school, pupils move with confidence and purpose. They understand behaviour expectations and say staff are fair and consistent. They learn about friendships, kindness, healthy relationships and online safety. Bullying is rare, and pupils say that staff respond swiftly and effectively if it happens. Pupils enjoy sport, outdoor areas, calm spaces and time with friends. Older pupils value the extra responsibility they have at lunchtime and say they feel more confident since joining the school.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should further refine their systems and analysis for school performance, so that the proprietor can continue to sharpen its understanding of the effectiveness of the school.
- Leaders should continue to strengthen teachers' subject knowledge so the curriculum is delivered consistently well in all subjects and across all key stages.
- Leaders should enable pupils to develop greater confidence and enjoyment in writing by ensuring staff identify and address gaps in pupils' foundational knowledge, so that pupils can apply the knowledge and skills they are taught with increasing independence.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 24 February 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Wolfdale School excels at helping pupils who have had disrupted education or difficult experiences feel truly safe and understood. Through therapeutic support, consistent adults, and personalised learning, pupils quickly gain confidence and make real progress. The school's combination of strong teaching in reading, emotional support, and practical career preparation prepares pupils exceptionally well for their futures.
Key Strengths
- Rapid progress in reading through daily, systematic teaching and targeted support
- Strong therapeutic approach that helps pupils manage emotions and feel safe and understood
- Excellent attendance improvements through caring relationships and personalised support plans
- Pupils develop real confidence and pride in their achievements
- Effective behaviour support with consistent expectations and early intervention
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff lack sufficient subject expertise to deliver curriculum consistently well in all subjects
- Monitoring systems for school performance are new and need further refinement to provide precise, consistent information
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Emotional support dogs, creative arts, sports, community visits, college visits, work experience, vocational qualifications
Wolfdale School is a specialist school that helps pupils who have missed education or found school difficult in the past to settle quickly and make real progress. The school creates a safe, therapeutic environment where pupils develop confidence, improve their reading, and prepare successfully for their next steps.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Wolfdale School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 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 Leicestershire is 3 (the median across 329 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
100%
Full
60 pupils
60 places
No spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - LEICESTERSHIRE
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for LEICESTERSHIRE
Across Leicestershire council
Places available
8,516
Applications
7,490
Got 1st preference
90.2%
Got preferred school
98.1%
All secondary applications across Leicestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
Independent School standard inspection
Met all the independent school standards.
Independent School standard inspection
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
60
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Wolfdale School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
60
Total Pupils
44
Boys
16
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Wolfdale School
What are GCSE results like at Wolfdale School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Wolfdale School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Wolfdale School's Ofsted rating?
Wolfdale School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2023, it was rated Good.
Does Wolfdale School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in February 2026, Wolfdale School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Wolfdale School?
Wolfdale School has around 60 pupils on roll.
Does Wolfdale School have specialist SEN provision?
Wolfdale School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Wolfdale School?
Wolfdale School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Wolfdale School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 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 Leicestershire is 3 (the median across 329 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Wolfdale School?
Wolfdale School is at CROPSTON ROAD, ANSTEY, LEICESTERSHIRE, LE7 7BP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)