Lord's School

Lord's School is an independent school that meets the expected standard for inclusion and personal development and wellbeing, and safeguarding standards are met. Inspectors found a calm, welcoming culture where staff build strong, trusting relationships, pupils feel safe and ready to learn, and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Personal development, PSHE and RSE, careers guidance, and enrichment opportunities are notable strengths. However, several areas need attention. Pupils' achievement is limited by persistent gaps in mathematics and writing that are not addressed precisely enough, and their experience of the curriculum is uneven because explanations of new learning are sometimes unclear. Attendance and behaviour records are inconsistent, behaviour policy implementation varies, and leaders' oversight is weakened by these record-keeping issues. The school continues not to meet some independent school standards. Site risk assessments are not in place, and leaders' checks on the independent school standards are not consistently effective. Recent work to improve assessment precision and staff development is at an early stage. Contextually, most pupils join partway through their education, many have SEND or additional barriers to learning, and the school has changed its registration to admit only secondary-age pupils after a previous inspection in October 2025 found standards not met.

Strengths

• Strong, trusting relationships help pupils feel safe and ready to learn.
• Pupils' needs are identified early and accurately, including SEND.
• Pupils with SEND access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers.
• Personal development, PSHE, RSE and careers guidance are well planned and delivered.
• Pupils benefit from a wide range of clubs, trips and enrichment activities.
• Pupils develop a secure understanding of British values, diversity and online safety.
• Most pupils behave well and bullying is rare and dealt with effectively.
• Staff support pupils' wellbeing and help improve attendance rapidly.
• Leaders have high ambition for pupils and prioritise staff development and wellbeing.
• Safeguarding standards are met, with an open culture of safeguarding.

Areas for Improvement

• Gaps in pupils' mathematics and writing knowledge are not addressed precisely enough.
• Pupils' experience of the curriculum is uneven because explanations of new learning are sometimes unclear.
• Pupils with SEND have the same writing and mathematics gaps as their peers.
• Leaders' checks on the independent school standards are not consistently effective.
• Risk assessments for the school site and grounds are not in place.
• Attendance registers and records are not completed accurately or consistently.
• Behaviour records vary in quality and the behaviour policy is not always implemented consistently.
• Leaders' oversight of attendance and behaviour is limited by inaccurate or inconsistent records.
• Recent work to improve assessment precision and staff development is at an early stage.
• Independent school standards for welfare, health and safety and quality of leadership remain not met.

In 2025–26, 30.4% of pupils at Lord's School were on SEN support (nationally 18.4%) and 39.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 7.9%).

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 independent school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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What is Lord's School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Lord's School is Needs attention, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was Lord's School last inspected by Ofsted?

Lord's School was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does Lord's School have?

Lord's School has 23 pupils on roll.

What age range does Lord's School cover?

Lord's School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is Lord's School?

Lord's School is at Brooklyn, Green Lane, Bolton, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 2EF.