Woodpecker Court, Dover
Woodpecker Court is a special school for pupils aged 16 to 24 in Dover. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2024.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Woodpecker Court in detail
Woodpecker Court in its own words
In its own words: "At Woodpecker Court we believe that there are three core values that are at the centre of everything our community represents. Relationships - Many young people arrive finding relationships difficult. We support young people at the earliest stage to develop good and positive relationships with both peers and staff, so they feel comfortable, happy, and ready to learn."
Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Woodpecker Court are The Sallygate School (3.8 miles, Good); The Davenport School (4 miles, Good); Ripplevale School (4.3 miles); and Portal House School (5.9 miles, Good).
The Sallygate SchoolThe Davenport SchoolRipplevale SchoolPortal House School
Who goes there
Woodpecker Court is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Eythorne Station (East Kent Railway), about 450 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (adjacent), 260 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 20 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its February 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Woodpecker Court
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Woodpecker Court from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Woodpecker Court is in Kent; for families living there:
Apply to Kent for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- 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: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
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 Kent is 11 (the median across 711 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 - Dover
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Dover
Across Kent council
Places available
19,539
Applications
18,644
Got 1st preference
78.9%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Kent council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
Special educational needs provision
Woodpecker Court is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Questions parents ask about Woodpecker Court
What is Woodpecker Court's Ofsted rating?
Woodpecker Court was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024.
What is the catchment area for Woodpecker Court?
No fixed boundary. When Woodpecker Court is oversubscribed, Kent allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Does Woodpecker Court have specialist SEN provision?
Woodpecker Court is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to Woodpecker Court?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Woodpecker Court 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 Woodpecker Court?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 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 Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Woodpecker Court?
Woodpecker Court is at Woodpecker Court, 45 Wigmore Lane, Eythorne, Dover, Kent, CT15 4BF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)