The Hawthorns School
Thornhurst Road, Chelmsford, CM1 2XTOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Hawthorns School is a special school in Chelmsford for ages 7 to 16. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in January 2026.
Ofsted report card
Inspected 6 January 2026, report published 28 May 2026
Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.
- Inclusion
- Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching
- Expected standard
- Achievement
- Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour
- Strong standard
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Strong standard
- Leadership and governance
- Strong standard
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 6 January 2026
Pupils thrive at this school. All pupils have complex special educational needs and/or disabilities, which often makes communication and working with others a challenge. Due to the high-quality inclusion work of the school, pupils are engaged and positive learners. Their needs are well-known and consistently met by the school. Pupils’ learning is well matched to their needs. The curriculum they experience has enabled them to build knowledge and skills in a range of academic and personal areas. Pupils secure important knowledge in literacy and numeracy, as well as in their personal skills. They enjoy a range of activities that are integrated into their ‘LIFE’ curriculum, which help them to build the social interaction, self-care and life skills needed for the future and to prepare them for adulthood. As a result, pupils are very well prepared for their next stage in life. Pupils are well supported to become independent in their communication style. They are able to share their needs, views and wishes. This has meant that pupils are now able to work together positively and begin to make trusted and genuine connections with classmates and with staff. Pupils have very warm and purposeful relationships with the adults that help them in school. They demonstrate through their interactions with staff that they feel safe. Pupils’ attendance to school is excellent. This has been supported by the strategic work of leaders to ensure that any barriers to attendance are identified and removed. Pupils enjoy coming to school and are at the centre of the school community. They treat each other with respect and kindness and their conduct towards each other is consistently positive. Bullying is rare and well responded to by the school if it does occur. Most of the time, pupils are calm and relaxed. On some occasions, due to their complex sensory needs, pupils experience anxiety. When this happens, they are skilfully supported by expert staff.
What the school should improve
- Leaders should ensure high quality implementation of the curriculum across all phases and areas, so that pupils achieve consistently well.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
10 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
69 pupils on roll, with places for 70
Schools near The Hawthorns School
| School | Distance | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy | 0.1 miles | No Ofsted inspection |
| Lift Columbus | 0.8 miles | No Ofsted inspection |
| High Trees | 0.9 miles | No Ofsted inspection |
| The Belsteads School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good |
| Octavia House Schools, Essex | 3 miles | No Ofsted inspection |
School details
- School type
- Free schools special
- Sector
- Free school
- Trust
- SEAX TRUST
- Age range
- 7 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Miss Hayley Kersey
- Phone
- 01245207607
- Address
- Thornhurst Road, Chelmsford, CM1 2XT
- Local authority
- Essex
- URN
- 149335
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.