Woodfield School, Hemel Hempstead
Woodfield School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Hemel Hempstead. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2017)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Woodfield School in detail
Woodfield School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Our school is a safe, happy place where we aim for our pupils to achieve their maximum potential in preparation for a fulfilling adult life. Our school aims of 'Sharing, Caring, Achieving Together' underpin and guide everything that we do."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Woodfield School are Haywood Grove School (2.1 miles, Good); The Collett School (2.1 miles, Good); Redbourn Park School (2.1 miles, Good); and Felden Hall School (2.8 miles).
Haywood Grove SchoolThe Collett SchoolRedbourn Park SchoolFelden Hall School
What parents say
61 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Woodfield School (as of September 2025): 57% would recommend the school, 74% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (74%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
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.
Who goes there
37.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 14.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Woodfield School has an education, health and care plan (125 of 125 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Woodfield School has a SEN unit for visual impairment, hearing impairment, autism, multi-sensory impairment, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 120 places, 124 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Apsley Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Colonsay (adjacent), 160 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Woodfield School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2017, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its November 2017 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
37.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Vision, Hearing, Autism +3
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
61 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Woodfield School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Woodfield School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Woodfield School is in Hertfordshire; for families living there:
- Hertfordshire's school travel policy: Read the home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 8 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were 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 Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 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
104%
Over capacity
125 pupils
120 places
5 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Hemel Hempstead
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hemel Hempstead
Across Hertfordshire council
Places available
15,222
Applications
13,456
Got 1st preference
77.5%
Got preferred school
94.9%
All secondary applications across Hertfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
125
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Woodfield School has a SEN unit for visual impairment, hearing impairment, autism, multi-sensory impairment, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 120 places, 124 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
125
Total Pupils
84
Boys
41
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
6.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,308
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.6%
Overall absence
35.2%
Persistent absence
105
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
Woodfield School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Woodfield School
What are SATs results like at Woodfield School?
Of the pupils at Woodfield School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Woodfield School's Ofsted rating?
Woodfield School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2017, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Woodfield School?
No fixed boundary. When Woodfield School is oversubscribed, Hertfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Woodfield School?
Woodfield School has around 125 pupils on roll. 38% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Woodfield School have specialist SEN provision?
Woodfield School has a SEN unit for visual impairment, hearing impairment, autism, multi-sensory impairment, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 120 places, 124 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Woodfield School?
12.6% of sessions were missed at Woodfield School in 2024/25. 35.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Woodfield School?
Apply through Hertfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Woodfield 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 Woodfield School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 8 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were 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 Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Woodfield School?
Woodfield School is at Malmes Croft, Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP3 8RL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)