The William Henry Smith School and Sixth Form

Independent special school · All-through, ages 5 to 19 · Boys only · Sixth form · Boarding

Boothroyd, Brighouse, HD6 3JW

01484 710123 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedOutstandingInspected 13 September 2023
Pupils83Room for 87 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 68 in 2019, 72 in 2021, 72 in 2022, 78 in 2023, 87 in 2024, 88 in 2025, 83 in 2026. Across England, special state school pupil numbers were up 39% from 2019 to 2025.
Free school meals58%of pupils eligible now

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 13 September 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth formOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted non-association independent schools inspection data.

What parents say

11 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

StatementThis schoolEngland
My child is happy at this school 100% 83%
My child feels safe at this school 100% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 100% 78%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 11 parents who had raised a concern 100% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 11 parents of children with SEND 100% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent 100%said yes 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 13%). 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.

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Results

We don't show GCSE or primary results for independent schools. DfE's tables often leave out the IGCSEs and other qualifications many independent schools use, so their published figures can look far lower than pupils' real results. DfE has published no A level results for this school. Ask the school for its results.

Admissions

Independent schools run their own admissions and set their own fees. Contact the school directly.

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. It caters for: Specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs.

PupilsThis schoolCalderdaleEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 58.4% 48.8%* 51.9%
With an education, health and care plan 100.0% 100.0%* 99.5%
Receiving special educational needs support 0.0% 0.0%* 0.5%
English as an additional language 2.3% 14.0%* 14.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed) 6.6% 9.5%* 12.8%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 15.9% 27.1%* 35.3%
Suspensions per 100 pupils 0.0 0.2 12.3
Pupils suspended at least once 0.0% 0.2% 5.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.00% 0.08%

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.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby special schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is The William Henry Smith School and Sixth Form's Ofsted rating?

The William Henry Smith School and Sixth Form was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 September 2023.

Would parents recommend The William Henry Smith School and Sixth Form?

100% of the 11 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend The William Henry Smith School and Sixth Form to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.