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OpenOfsted: Not judgedURN 134190

Heart of the Forest Community Special School

Community special school · Coleford · GL16 7EJ

Ages 4–19 · 160 pupils · Gloucestershire

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

Overall absence

13.6%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2025-02-25

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence13.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)48.0%
Unauthorised2.3%
Authorised absence
11.3%
Severe absence (50%+)
7.3%
Enrolments in measure
123

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill110%

160 pupils · 145 places

Pupils on roll
160
Boys / girls
107 / 53
School capacity
145
Capacity fill
160 / 145 (110%)
Free school meals
53.3%
FSM pupils
81
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community special school

Age range

Ages 4–19

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Community special school
Headteacher
Mrs Lucyna Mansfield

Location

Address
Speech House
Postcode
GL16 7EJ
Town
Coleford
County
Gloucestershire
Local authority
Gloucestershire
District
Forest of Dean
Constituency
Forest of Dean
Urban/rural
Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
VI - Visual Impairment; OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability; SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; PD - Physical Disability; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Special classes
Has Special Classes
Resourced provision
Resourced provision
Resourced places
160 on roll / 160 capacity

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed community special school, Ages 4–19, in Coleford, Gloucestershire, 160 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, special school. Free school meals: 53.3%. SEN provision includes: VI - Visual Impairment; OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability; SLCN - Speech, language and Communication….

Open schools in Coleford
8
Academies among open schools in Coleford
38% (3)
Open schools in GL16
8
Open schools in Gloucestershire LA
339

Nearby schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in ColefordNear GL16

  • St White's Primary School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Community school · Primary

    Cinderford · GL14 3GD · Gloucestershire

    Ages 4–11

    • KS259%
    • Absence3.7%
    • FSM26.9%

    2.3 miles away

  • Coalway Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Coleford · GL16 7HL · Gloucestershire

    Ages 4–11

    • KS268%
    • Absence7.4%
    • FSM32.6%

    2.3 miles away

  • Lydbrook Primary School

    Ofsted: Some aspects not as strong

    Community school · Primary

    Lydbrook · GL17 9PX · Gloucestershire

    Ages 2–11

    • KS243%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM16.9%

    2.3 miles away

  • Five Acres High School

    Ofsted: Strong standard

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Coleford · GL16 7QW · Gloucestershire

    Ages 11–16

    • Att849.1
    • P80.8
    • EM5+48%
    • Absence9.0%

    2.4 miles away

  • Parkend Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Lydney · GL15 4HL · Gloucestershire

    Ages 4–11

    • KS250%
    • Absence5.9%
    • FSM22.1%

    2.5 miles away

  • Berry Hill Primary School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Foundation school · Primary

    Coleford · GL16 7AT · Gloucestershire

    Ages 4–11

    • KS250%
    • Absence5.1%
    • FSM15.9%

    2.6 miles away

  • Soudley School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Community school · Primary

    Cinderford · GL14 2UA · Gloucestershire

    Ages 4–11

    • KS230%
    • Absence4.8%
    • FSM18.2%

    2.7 miles away

  • Woodside Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Ruardean · GL17 9XP · Gloucestershire

    Ages 5–11

    • KS240%
    • Absence4.9%
    • FSM7.4%

    2.7 miles away

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Lucyna Mansfield
Telephone
01594822175
Website
www.heartoftheforestschool.co.uk

Official links