Wood Bank School
Dene View, Luddenden, Halifax, HX2 6PBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Wood Bank School is a special school in Halifax for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 112 schools in Calderdale. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2014.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 11 February 2014, report published 10 March 2014
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 17 April 2024
All pupils who attend the school have an education, health and care plan. Pupils have a diverse, and often complex, range of needs. The school's motto, 'from strong roots we grow and blossom', is evident throughout the school. The school has developed an ambitious curriculum that meets pupils' individual needs well. There are positive relationships between staff and pupils. Staff support pupils in a caring and calm way when they demonstrate more-challenging behaviour due to their specific needs. Pupils are confident that bullying is dealt with quickly by staff. Pupils have a trusted adult they can talk to if they are worried or concerned. Staff are vigilant. They have a strong understanding of the additional vulnerabilities of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff report any concerns they have about pupils, no matter how small. There are a range of activities, such as forest school, music therapy and sensory storytelling, which broaden pupils' experiences and develop their confidence and skills. The school celebrates and develops pupils' individuality.
What the school should improve
- Sometimes, the books that pupils learn to read are not consistently well matched to their reading ability. This means that some pupils are not making as much progress as they should. The school should ensure that all books are well matched to pupils' reading ability and pupils have the opportunity to read these books at home to practise reading and build up their fluency. The school should also ensure that there is a reading strategy beyond phonics to ensure pupils develop their reading skills further when they are ready.
- In a small number of subjects in the formal curriculum, the school has not considered well enough the most essential knowledge that pupils need to know. This means that, on occasions, some activities are not demanding enough for some pupils. The school should ensure that the most important knowledge in these subjects is identified and activities are well matched to what pupils know and can do.
- Some pupils do not attend as well as they need to. This means they are missing crucial learning and falling further behind. The school should ensure that barriers to pupils' attendance are addressed swiftly and the profile of attendance is raised further across the school.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
18 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
142 pupils on roll, with places for 70
Schools near Wood Bank School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brearley Hall School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Broadwood School | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Compass Community School Willow Park | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 5.9 |
| Ravenscliffe High School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 0.3 |
| Riverbank Primary School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Community special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Jenna Port
- Phone
- 01422884170
- Address
- Dene View, Luddenden, Halifax, HX2 6PB
- Local authority
- Calderdale
- URN
- 107590
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.