Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy, Letchworth Garden City
Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Letchworth Garden City. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2022 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy in detail
Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Support for Autism and ADHD in Hertfordshire Change of Circumstances Letter to Parents Support for Autism and ADHD in Hertfordshire Change of Circumstances Letter to Parents"
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy are Brandles School (0.9 miles, Good); and Larwood School (4.4 miles, Good).
Who goes there
37.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 7.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%), Mixed (6%) and Asian (6%).
Almost every pupil at Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy has an education, health and care plan (125 of 125 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy provides for pupils with autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Letchworth Garden City Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Parkfield (near), 320 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy issued 2 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from February 2017, 9 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 February 2017 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
37.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Autism, MLD
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 Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy 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
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- 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, 0 serious and 2 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 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
100%
Full
125 pupils
125 places
No spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Letchworth Garden City
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Letchworth Garden City
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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
125
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy provides for pupils with autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
125
Total Pupils
91
Boys
34
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
23
Teachers
5.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,909
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.4%
Overall absence
20.0%
Persistent absence
120
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy
Questions parents ask about Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy
What are SATs results like at Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy?
Of the pupils at Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy's Ofsted rating?
Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy is oversubscribed, Hertfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy?
Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy has around 125 pupils on roll. 38% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy provides for pupils with autism and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy?
7.4% of sessions were missed at Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy in 2024/25. 20% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy?
Apply through Hertfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy 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 Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy?
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, 0 serious and 2 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 Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy?
Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy is at Pryor Way, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, SG6 2PT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)