⌘ K
Overview
SCHOOL PROFILE

Birch Wood (Melton Area Special School)

Not applicable Academy special converter URN 152239
Open
Pupils 8,834,192 Latest school census
Capacity 240 Published school capacity
Capacity used 102.5% Pupils as a share of capacity
Age range 4 – 19 Statutory age range
OFSTED

Latest ungraded inspection

17 April 2024
Latest published outcome School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next
Published 12 May 2024 View Ofsted record
SCHOOL DETAILS

About this school

School type Academy special converter
Phase Not applicable
Gender Mixed
Religious character Does not apply
Local authority Leicestershire
Trust DISCOVERY SCHOOLS ACADEMIES TRUST LTD
Census date 15 January 2026
PUPIL PROFILE

School community

Latest published pupil characteristics for 2025/26.

2025/26
Total pupils 246 246 full-time · 0 part-time
Female pupils 83 33.7% of pupils
Male pupils 163 66.3% of pupils

Free school meals

Pupils eligible for free school meals.

41.9%
17.1 pts above England
School 41.9%
Melton 19.4%
East Midlands 25.0%
England 24.8%

English as an additional language

Pupils whose first language is not English.

2.0%
18.3 pts below England
School 2.0%
Melton 6.4%
East Midlands 18.4%
England 20.3%

Young carers

Pupils recorded as young carers.

0.0%
1.0 pts below England
School 0.0%
Melton 0.9%
East Midlands 0.7%
England 1.0%

Ethnicity

Largest recorded pupil groups.

White British
88.6%
218
White and Asian
2.4%
6
Indian
2.0%
5
Any other White background
1.6%
4
White and Black Caribbean
1.6%
4
Any other Asian background
0.8%
2
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% 246 of 246 pupils
79.2 pts above England England: 20.8%
School 100.0%
Melton 24.6%
East Midlands 19.1%
England 20.8%
SEN support 0.0% 0 pupils
England 14.8% 14.8 pts below
EHC plans 100.0% 246 pupils
England 6.0% 94.0 pts above
PRIMARY NEEDS

Most common identified needs

Pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder 73
Speech, language & communication 53
Social, emotional & mental health 30
Severe learning difficulty 27
Moderate learning difficulty 25
Specific learning difficulty 11

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.

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

School context

Comparison with open not applicable schools.

CAPACITY

Capacity utilisation

102.5% 22.7 pts above England
Birch Wood (Melton Area Special School)
102.5%
Melton
82.8%
East Midlands
78.4%
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