SchoolScoresThe Hawthorns School
Special free school · All-through, ages 7 to 16 · Mixed
Part of SEAX TRUST
Thornhurst Road, Chelmsford, CM1 2XT
01245 207607 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 6 January 2026 , published 28 May 2026.
In short: 4 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
21 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 76% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 86% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 76% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 19 parents who had raised a concern | 79% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 21 parents of children with SEND | 90% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 90%said yes | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 70%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
10 pupils in this year group.
0% — 63 points below the Essex average, and 62 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 0% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 0% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 0% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 105 | 105 |
"Not published": No figure published.
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
| 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|
| Not published | Not published | 0% |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Essex. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round.
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 20.0% | 45.9%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 99.6%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.4%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 13.3% | 4.3%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 10.0% | 12.2%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 14.6% | 34.5%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 9.8 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 0.0% | 4.5% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 6.5 | 7.1 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 1.6 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 11.6% | 16.7%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby special schools
- The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy 0.1 miles · Ofsted: No graded inspection
- The Bridge Columbus 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected
- High Trees 0.9 miles · Independent · Ofsted: No graded inspection
- The Belsteads School 2.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Octavia House Schools, Essex 2.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Thriftwood School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Hawthorns School's Ofsted rating?
The Hawthorns School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 6 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 4 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding was met.
Would parents recommend The Hawthorns School?
90% of the 21 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend The Hawthorns School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 149335.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.