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OpenOfsted: OutstandingURN 109744

Woodlands Secondary School

Community special school · Luton · LU3 3SP

Ages 11–18 · 262 pupils · Luton

School website

Ofsted

Outstanding

Overall absence

11.2%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Outstanding

Inspection date

2024-05-08

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
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)

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence11.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)37.6%
Unauthorised2.0%
Authorised absence
9.2%
Severe absence (50%+)
4.6%
Enrolments in measure
197

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 fill99%

262 pupils · 265 places

Pupils on roll
262
Boys / girls
184 / 78
School capacity
265
Capacity fill
262 / 265 (99%)
Free school meals
45.3%
FSM pupils
97
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community special school

Age range

Ages 11–18

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 Sandra Clarke

Location

Address
Northwell Drive
Postcode
LU3 3SP
Town
Luton
County
Bedfordshire
Local authority
Luton
District
Luton
Constituency
Luton North
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to 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; HI - Hearing Impairment; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health; MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment; PD - Physical Disability; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Special classes
Has Special Classes

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 11–18, in Luton, Luton, 262 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, special school. Free school meals: 45.3%. SEN provision includes: VI - Visual Impairment; OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability; HI - Hearing Impairment….

Open schools in Luton
84
Academies among open schools in Luton
33% (28)
Open schools in LU3
23
Open schools in Luton LA
79

Nearby schools

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

Compare with theseAll in LutonNear LU3

  • Lea Manor High School

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Luton · LU3 3TL · Luton

    Ages 11–16

    • Att834.4
    • P8-1.0
    • EM5+26%
    • Absence10.6%

    0.2 miles away

  • Waulud Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Luton · LU3 3LZ · Luton

    Ages 3–11

    • KS253%
    • Absence5.6%
    • FSM45.8%
    • Demand0.96

    0.3 miles away

  • The Meads Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Luton · LU3 2UE · Luton

    Ages 4–11

    • KS272%
    • Absence4.9%
    • FSM29.6%
    • Demand0.88

    0.4 miles away

  • Whitefield Primary Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Luton · LU3 3SS · Luton

    Ages 3–11

    • KS257%
    • Absence4.3%
    • FSM46.1%
    • Demand0.96

    0.5 miles away

  • Parklea Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Luton · LU3 3EW · Luton

    Ages 4–11

    • KS245%
    • Absence5.3%
    • FSM24.5%
    • Demand0.94

    0.6 miles away

  • Bramingham Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Luton · LU3 4BL · Luton

    Ages 4–11

    • KS248%
    • Absence4.8%
    • FSM14.3%
    • Demand1.18

    0.7 miles away

  • Grasmere Nursery School

    Ofsted: Good

    Local authority nursery school · Nursery

    Luton · LU3 2BT · Luton

    Ages 3–5

    • FSM1.0%

    0.8 miles away

  • Icknield Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Luton · LU3 2JB · Luton

    Ages 4–11

    • KS256%
    • Absence6.1%
    • FSM21.1%
    • Demand0.97

    0.9 miles away

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Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Sandra Clarke
Telephone
01582572880
Website
http://www.woodlands.luton.sch.uk

Official links