Highshore School

Highshore School has retained its status as a good school, offering a supportive and inclusive environment for its students with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Parents express high levels of satisfaction, describing the school as a 'family' that prioritizes academic achievement as well as personal development. The school provides effective therapy support and promotes pupils' confidence and communication skills, while preparing them for adulthood through college placements and work experiences in the sixth form.

Strengths

• Creates a calm and safe environment for learning
• Prioritizes therapy support and well-being for students
• Encourages high expectations for student achievement
• Implements effective reading and phonics initiatives
• Maintains a broad curriculum with various qualification pathways
• Provides targeted support for independent living and personal safety

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum planning lacks clarity and sequencing in some areas
• Some staff require further training to deliver the phonics curriculum effectively
• Feedback to students sometimes focuses too much on activities rather than learning objectives

In 2024–25 pupils at Highshore School attended 86.6% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 37.7% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Highshore School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Highshore School had 7.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Highshore School had 163 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Highshore School received £31,326 and spent £32,182 for each of its 163 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,027,000 (£6,301 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

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What is Highshore School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Highshore School is Good, from an inspection in April 2023.

When was Highshore School last inspected by Ofsted?

Highshore School was last inspected in April 2023.

How many pupils does Highshore School have?

Highshore School has 163 pupils on roll.

What age range does Highshore School cover?

Highshore School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Highshore School?

Highshore School is at 135 Farmers Road, Camberwell, London, SE5 0TW.