SCHOOL PROFILE

Hednesford Valley High School

Not applicable Community special school URN 124508
Open
Pupils 8,834,192 Latest school census
Capacity — Published school capacity
Capacity used — Pupils as a share of capacity
Age range 11 – 19 Statutory age range
OFSTED

Latest ungraded inspection

9 October 2024
Latest published outcome Standards maintained
SCHOOL DETAILS

About this school

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

School community

Latest published pupil characteristics for 2025/26.

2025/26
Total pupils 205 205 full-time · 0 part-time
Female pupils 43 21.0% of pupils
Male pupils 162 79.0% of pupils

Free school meals

Pupils eligible for free school meals.

47.8%
23.0 pts above England
School 47.8%
Cannock Chase 27.0%
West Midlands 30.6%
England 24.8%

English as an additional language

Pupils whose first language is not English.

1.0%
19.3 pts below England
School 1.0%
Cannock Chase 4.2%
West Midlands 22.4%
England 20.3%

Young carers

Pupils recorded as young carers.

1.0%
0.0 pts in line with England
School 1.0%
Cannock Chase 0.5%
West Midlands 0.6%
England 1.0%

Ethnicity

Largest recorded pupil groups.

White British
92.7%
190
White and Black Caribbean
1.5%
3
African
1.0%
2
Any other Mixed background
1.0%
2
Any other White background
1.0%
2
Any other Asian background
0.5%
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% 205 of 205 pupils
79.2 pts above England England: 20.8%
School 100.0%
Cannock Chase 21.9%
West Midlands 21.1%
England 20.8%
SEN support 0.0% 0 pupils
England 14.8% 14.8 pts below
EHC plans 100.0% 205 pupils
England 6.0% 94.0 pts above
PRIMARY NEEDS

Most common identified needs

Pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder 59
Speech, language & communication 48
Moderate learning difficulty 33
Specific learning difficulty 25
Social, emotional & mental health 20
Severe learning difficulty 16

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 2024/25.

2024/25
ATTAINMENT 8

Average attainment score

0.3 38.9 pts below England
School 0.3
Cannock Chase 27.9
West Midlands 38.3
England 39.2
English & maths grade 5+ 0.0% England 36.0% 36.0 pts below England
English & maths grade 4+ 0.0% England 51.4% 51.4 pts below England
EBacc entry 0.0% England 30.6% 30.6 pts below England
EBacc average point score 0.02 England 3.41
Progress 8 Not available for 2024/25

Latest published: -1.73 · 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

8.29%

Percentage of possible sessions missed.

2.08 pts higher than England
School 8.29%
Cannock Chase 6.05%
West Midlands 6.28%
England 6.22%
ABSENCE RATE

Persistent absence

27.15%

Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.

11.34 pts higher than England
School 27.15%
Cannock Chase 16.32%
West Midlands 16.42%
England 15.82%
ABSENCE RATE

Severe absence

1.32%

Pupils missing 50% or more of sessions.

0.48 pts lower than England
School 1.32%
Cannock Chase 1.25%
West Midlands 1.82%
England 1.80%
Council, regional and national comparisons are averages of published school-level percentages rather than pupil-weighted official absence rates.
Sources: Department for Education · Get Information about Schools · Ofsted monthly management information