Woodley School and College, Huddersfield
Woodley School and College is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in Huddersfield. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Woodley School and College in detail
Woodley School and College in its own words
In its own words: "There are currently 140 pupils on roll. The school is rated as 'Good' by Ofsted (2017), holds Advanced Autism Accreditation and is the Autism Education Trust licensed training provider for Kirklees schools and Post 16. This recognises the highest standards of autism expertise and practice and underpins the school's important role as a schools training hub."
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a specialist school for autistic children and young people aged 5-19, and I am proud to lead such a caring, committed, and ambitious community. At Woodley, our focus is simple: helping every student enjoy a good quality of life , both now and as they grow into adulthood."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Woodley School and College are Castle Hill School (1.1 miles, Outstanding); Southgate School (1.2 miles, Good); Fable House (1.9 miles); and Barraclough Hall School (2 miles).
Castle Hill SchoolSouthgate SchoolFable HouseBarraclough Hall School
Where pupils go next
Of the 12 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 17% to a further education college.
Who goes there
38.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 25.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (46%), Asian (33%) and Mixed (8%).
Almost every pupil at Woodley School and College has an education, health and care plan (186 of 186 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Woodley School and College has a SEN unit for autism: 120 places, 193 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Huddersfield Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Martin Bank (near), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 409 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kirklees (153), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Woodley School and College issued 3 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); 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 October 2017, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2017 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
38.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Woodley School and College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Woodley School and College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Woodley School and College is in Kirklees; for families living there:
- Kirklees's school travel policy: School transport
- How to apply: Apply for school travel support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 16
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 12 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
6 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 Kirklees is 12 (the median across 203 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 - Huddersfield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Huddersfield
Across Kirklees council
Places available
4,930
Applications
4,787
Got 1st preference
89.2%
Got preferred school
97.8%
All secondary applications across Kirklees council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(10)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
186
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Woodley School and College has a SEN unit for autism: 120 places, 193 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
186
Total Pupils
147
Boys
39
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
43
Teachers
4.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,658
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.4%
Overall absence
22.7%
Persistent absence
154
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
Woodley School and College
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Woodley School and College
What are SATs results like at Woodley School and College?
Of the pupils at Woodley School and College who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Woodley School and College's Ofsted rating?
Woodley School and College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Woodley School and College?
No fixed boundary. When Woodley School and College is oversubscribed, Kirklees allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Woodley School and College?
Woodley School and College has around 186 pupils on roll. 38% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Woodley School and College have specialist SEN provision?
Woodley School and College has a SEN unit for autism: 120 places, 193 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Woodley School and College?
9.4% of sessions were missed at Woodley School and College in 2024/25. 22.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Woodley School and College?
Apply through Kirklees's coordinated admissions process, naming Woodley School and 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 Woodley School and College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 12 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 6 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 Kirklees is 12 (the median across 203 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Woodley School and College?
Woodley School and College is at Off Dog Kennel Bank, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD5 8JE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)