Southgate School

  • Special
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 4 to 16
Ofsted: Good

Southfield Road, Almondbury, Huddersfield, HD5 8TGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Southgate School is a special school in Huddersfield for ages 4 to 16. It is one of the 199 schools in Kirklees. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2015.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 11 March 2015, report published 24 April 2015

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 31 January 2024

Southgate School strives to give each pupil a personalised, aspirational and specialist curriculum each day. Leaders ensure that staff know pupils well. Staff work together to understand pupils' individual needs. This includes understanding their academic needs and their special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils feel safe in school. As a result, relationships between staff and pupils are highly secure. The school has redeveloped some areas of the curriculum. Leaders have relaunched reading and lessons to improve pupils' phonics knowledge. The school is embedding this work to ensure that all pupils develop and strengthen their reading skills. All pupils are expected to read often over the school week. Staff support pupils who need help to strengthen their reading well. Pupils describe the books that they read with enthusiasm. They access a well-stocked library and read a range of books in lessons. Pupils behave well. There is a caring atmosphere, with a focus on respect for others. Pupils care for one and another. They support each other emotionally and academically. Adults are skilful in the support that they provide. They ensure that pupils learn how to manage themselves well, both in and around school. Pupils are welcoming. They are polite and willing to show visitors their work. They speak highly of their achievements and the progress that they make.

What the school should improve

  • Parents and carers do not have the information they need to help support their child's reading at home. This means that some pupils do not have the opportunity to practise their reading and phonics skills. The school should ensure that parents and carers understand the school's reading and phonics approach so that they can confidently support their child's reading at home.
  • Some pupils lack an understanding of the risks they may face in the community. This means they may not fully recognise the risks that they could be exposed to and how to keep themselves safe. The school should ensure that all pupils develop a stronger understanding of the risks they may face to prepare them for adulthood more effectively.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

15 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 62 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Pupil numbers and mix

182 pupils on roll, with places for 164

Eligible for free school meals53.3%

53.3%, 26.8 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language12.6%

12.6%, 9 percentage points below 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 Southgate School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Woodley School and College1 mileOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard
Fields Rise School2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Castle Hill School2 milesOfsted: Outstanding0% met the expected standard
Fable House3 milesNo Ofsted inspectionNot published
Barraclough Hall School3 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standardNot published

School details

School type
Community special school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
4 to 16
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Ms Ruth Cranmer
Address
Southfield Road, Almondbury, Huddersfield, HD5 8TG
Local authority
Kirklees
URN
107801

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.