Abbeywood School
Rother Way, Hellaby Industrial Estate, Hellaby, Rotherham, S66 8QNOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Abbeywood School is a special school in Rotherham for ages 5 to 18. It is one of the 126 schools in Rotherham. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 14 November 2023, report published 20 December 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 14 November 2023
Pupils are safe and happy at this school. All pupils at Abbeywood have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school develops a highly detailed support plan for each pupil. Staff implement these plans very well. Many pupils join this school after long periods of time out of education. Once settled at Abbeywood, pupils display extremely positive attitudes to learning. Pupils attend, and behave, very well. Pupils learn how to understand, and manage, their feelings. Most parents and carers speak highly of the difference they see in their child at this school. More than one parent refers to the school as 'life changing'. Pupils appreciate the wide range of subjects and qualifications on offer to them. These include vocational courses, such as hospitality and catering, and hair and beauty. Pupils are proud of what they achieve. The school prepares pupils for life outside of school extremely well. Pupils benefit from an extensive enrichment programme. This includes regular trips and visits. Pupils have multiple opportunities to develop their talents and interests. Pupils are involved in a lot of charity work. All pupils follow a taught life skills programme. The school has a studio flat where pupils practise how to live independently.
What the school should improve
- In a small number of subjects, planned learning is not implemented as effectively as it could be. This is limiting what pupils know and can do in these subjects. The school should review pedagogic and adaptive practice to ensure that implementation of subject plans is consistently strong across all subjects. In order to embed this, the school should complete its work on the further development of subject leadership.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
13 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
92 pupils on roll, with places for 102
Schools near Abbeywood School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilltop School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| The Willows School | 2 miles | Report card: Needs attention to strong standard | 0% met the expected standard |
| Pennine View School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Newman School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Attainment 8: 2.8 |
| Elements Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement | Attainment 8: 2.1 |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 5 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Admissions
- Selective
- Headteacher
- Mrs Sarah Douglas
- Phone
- 01709916900
- Address
- Rother Way, Hellaby Industrial Estate, Hellaby, Rotherham, S66 8QN
- Local authority
- Rotherham
- URN
- 146571
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.