High Park School
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
Schools near High Park School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chellow Heights Special School | 0.1 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Prism Independent School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Hazelbeck Special School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
| Co-op Academy Southfield | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Co-op Academy Delius | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% 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
- Phone
- 01274614092
- 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.