SCHOOL PROFILE

Woodlands School

Not applicable Foundation special school URN 113644
Open
Pupils 8,834,192 Latest school census
Capacity 85 Published school capacity
Capacity used 114.1% Pupils as a share of capacity
Age range 2 – 19 Statutory age range
OFSTED

Latest ungraded inspection

8 February 2023
Latest published outcome School remains Good
SCHOOL DETAILS

About this school

School type Foundation special school
Phase Not applicable
Gender Mixed
Religious character Does not apply
Local authority Plymouth
Trust Not applicable
Census date 15 January 2026
PUPIL PROFILE

School community

Latest published pupil characteristics for 2025/26.

2025/26
Total pupils 97 97 full-time · 0 part-time
Female pupils 48 49.5% of pupils
Male pupils 49 50.5% of pupils

Free school meals

Pupils eligible for free school meals.

27.8%
3.0 pts above England
School 27.8%
Plymouth 25.3%
South West 20.1%
England 24.8%

English as an additional language

Pupils whose first language is not English.

4.1%
16.2 pts below England
School 4.1%
Plymouth 11.0%
South West 10.7%
England 20.3%

Young carers

Pupils recorded as young carers.

0.0%
1.0 pts below England
School 0.0%
Plymouth 2.7%
South West 1.5%
England 1.0%

Ethnicity

Largest recorded pupil groups.

White British
90.7%
88
Any other White background
2.1%
2
Any other ethnic group
2.1%
2
Any other Mixed background
1.0%
1
Bangladeshi
1.0%
1
Chinese
1.0%
1
Council, regional and national comparisons are pupil-weighted using published school census counts.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS

Special educational needs

Pupils receiving SEN support or with an education, health and care plan.

2025/26
Pupils with SEN 100.0% 97 of 97 pupils
79.2 pts above England England: 20.8%
School 100.0%
Plymouth 21.3%
South West 21.7%
England 20.8%
SEN support 4.1% 4 pupils
England 14.8% 10.7 pts below
EHC plans 95.9% 93 pupils
England 6.0% 89.8 pts above
PRIMARY NEEDS

Most common identified needs

Pupils
Physical disability 74
Severe learning difficulty 8
Moderate learning difficulty 3
Speech, language & communication 3
Autistic spectrum disorder 2
Profound & multiple learning difficulty 2

SEN comparisons are pupil-weighted using published 2025/26 Department for Education school-level data. Primary needs combine pupils receiving SEN support and pupils with EHC plans.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Key stage 4 outcomes

Published Department for Education results for 2023/24.

2023/24
ATTAINMENT 8

Average attainment score

1.4 38.3 pts below England
School 1.4
Plymouth 42.9
South West 38.1
England 39.7
English & maths grade 5+ 0.0% England 37.1% 37.1 pts below England
English & maths grade 4+ 0.0% England 52.3% 52.3 pts below England
EBacc entry 0.0% England 31.3% 31.3 pts below England
EBacc average point score 0.17 England 3.46
Progress 8 Not available for 2023/24

Comparisons are averages of published school-level results for open schools. They are not pupil-weighted official local authority attainment rates.

ATTENDANCE & ABSENCE

Attendance profile

Published Department for Education absence data for 2024/25. Lower absence rates are generally better.

2024/25
ABSENCE RATE

Overall absence

14.87%

Percentage of possible sessions missed.

8.66 pts higher than England
School 14.87%
Plymouth 6.71%
South West 6.20%
England 6.22%
ABSENCE RATE

Persistent absence

51.35%

Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.

35.54 pts higher than England
School 51.35%
Plymouth 17.83%
South West 15.08%
England 15.82%
ABSENCE RATE

Severe absence

5.41%

Pupils missing 50% or more of sessions.

3.60 pts higher than England
School 5.41%
Plymouth 2.13%
South West 1.90%
England 1.80%
Council, regional and national comparisons are averages of published school-level percentages rather than pupil-weighted official absence rates.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

School context

Comparison with open not applicable schools.

CAPACITY

Capacity utilisation

114.1% 34.3 pts above England
Woodlands School
114.1%
Plymouth
93.4%
South West
82.1%
England
79.8%
Benchmarks use open schools in the same phase. Capacity utilisation is calculated from published pupil and capacity figures.
Sources: Department for Education · Get Information about Schools · Ofsted monthly management information