East Hall School
The Calf House, East Hall Farm, St Pauls Walden, Hitchin, SG4 8DLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
East Hall School is a special school in Hitchin for ages 14 to 17. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in December 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 3 December 2024, report published 19 January 2025
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 3 December 2024
Pupils flourish at East Hall School. Skilled, caring staff swiftly build positive and supportive relationships with pupils. This helps pupils to overcome previously negative experiences of education. As a result, they enjoy learning again and achieve well. The school has high expectations of pupils' behaviour. Care for pupils' social, emotional and mental health needs is exemplary. Staff help pupils to understand and communicate their emotions. They learn to self-regulate their behaviour. As a result, pupils' self-esteem and self-confidence increase. They attend regularly, behave very positively and work hard. Staff and pupils treat everyone with courtesy and compassion. Pupils enjoy participating in a wide range of trips, visits and sporting activities such as archery and rock climbing. Pupils take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. These activities help develop pupils' character and resilience. The school offers pupils a broad, ambitious and personalised curriculum. Pupils study vocational subjects such as horticulture, as well as GCSEs. The curriculum, in most subjects, effectively prepares pupils for their next steps. Pupils learn about a range of careers and further education opportunities. Staff support them with their applications. This enables pupils to make well-informed choices about the next stages in their education, employment and training.
What the school should improve
- A few aspects of the school's curriculum are not fully embedded. As a result, pupils' learning is not as secure as it could be across the breadth of the curriculum. The school should refine and embed its curriculum to support pupils in achieving the best possible outcomes across all curriculum subjects and pathways.
- The school has not given sufficient emphasis or structured support to developing pupils' spelling and punctuation. Teaching does not consistently address gaps or weaknesses in these aspects of pupils' writing. As a result, weaknesses in punctuation and spelling hinder pupils' fluency and the quality of their writing. The school needs to strengthen its approach to teaching these important aspects of pupils' writing.
Pupil numbers and mix
16 pupils on roll, with places for 22
Schools near East Hall School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Valley School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Attainment 8: 0.2 |
| Greenside School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Larwood School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Lonsdale School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 0.3 |
| Knightsfield School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 17.7 |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 14 to 17
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Laura Perry
- Phone
- 01462542050
- Address
- The Calf House, East Hall Farm, St Pauls Walden, Hitchin, SG4 8DL
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- URN
- 150044
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.