High Park School

  • Special
  • Academy
  • Ages 3 to 19
Ofsted: Good

Thorn Lane, Heaton, Bradford, BD9 6RYOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

High Park School is a special school in Bradford for ages 3 to 19. It is one of the 227 schools in Bradford. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2020.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 28 January 2020, report published 13 February 2020

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 April 2025

High Park School is a highly supportive and inclusive environment for pupils to learn in. The school is mostly ambitious for its pupils. It has a deep commitment to developing pupils' communication and interaction skills. Pupils are well prepared for their next steps in education and life. The curriculum is organised to ensure pupils become successful learners. Pupils receive patient and caring support from staff who understand their needs well. As a result, pupils feel safe and happy in the school. Pupils benefit from a range of specialist resources and therapies that support their personal development and special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). These are used effectively to ensure pupils can learn well. Staff proactively support pupils to behave positively. As a result, the school is typically calm and orderly. Pupils mostly engage with their learning with enthusiasm. Staff swiftly intervene if pupils become unsettled. This helps pupils focus on learning well. The school supports pupils' personal development exceptionally well. It ensures pupils experience a variety of opportunities that contribute to their broader development and build their independence. This helps them to develop socially, emotionally and academically.

What the school should improve

  • Some subject areas and curriculum pathways are less well designed than others. This means that some pupils are not learning as well as they could in all subjects and pathways. This includes pupils who are able to take more formal qualifications. The school should strengthen the design of the curriculum to ensure this prepares pupils more successfully for their next stage of learning and for when they leave school.
  • Some lesson activities and classroom resources are not well linked to the intended learning. They distract pupils' attention from learning. This limits pupils' ability to develop knowledge and understanding effectively. The school should ensure curriculum activities and classroom resources consistently support pupils' knowledge development.

Pupil numbers and mix

135 pupils on roll, with places for 100

Eligible for free school meals45.9%

45.9%, 19.4 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language28.9%

28.9%, 7.3 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support0%

0%, 14.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan100%

100%, 94 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near High Park School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Chellow Heights Special School0.1 milesOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard
Prism Independent School2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Hazelbeck Special School2 milesOfsted: OutstandingNot published
Co-op Academy Southfield3 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Co-op Academy Delius4 milesOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy special sponsor led
Sector
Academy
Trust
CARLTON ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
3 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Mrs Bridie Dorning
Address
Thorn Lane, Heaton, Bradford, BD9 6RY
Local authority
Bradford
URN
143533

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.