Heaton School

Heaton School is a special school in Stockport for pupils with a wide range of complex special educational needs and disabilities, all of whom have education, health and care plans. This full inspection took place after significant changes to senior leadership and governance. Inspectors found the school performing securely overall, with safeguarding requirements met and no area judged below the expected standard. Strengths include a strongly inclusive approach, a curriculum well adapted to pupils’ needs through three distinct pathways, and effective therapeutic and pastoral support. Pupils make suitable progress towards their education, health and care plan targets, particularly in communication, physical development and emotional regulation. Personal development, enrichment and post-16 provision are strong, and governance and family partnerships are effective. The main areas for improvement are consistency in teaching and expectations. In the semi-formal pathway, staff do not always reinforce and consolidate learning sharply enough, and some miss opportunities to develop pupils’ foundational literacy and numeracy. Some staff need more knowledge, guidance and training to intervene effectively, and high expectations are not yet embedded consistently across all staff.

Strengths

• Inclusive approach tailored to pupils’ complex SEND is a strength.
• Curriculum is well matched to pupils’ needs and organised into three distinct pathways.
• Pupils make suitable progress towards EHCP targets, especially in communication, physical development, emotional regulation and readiness to learn.
• Staff use visual prompts, communication boards and consistent routines to make learning accessible.
• Therapeutic and pastoral support is woven through the curriculum and daily school life.
• Pupils benefit from rich personal development, enrichment and community experiences.
• Post-16 provision prepares students well for college, work and greater independence.
• Governance provides expertise, support and informed challenge.
• Relationships are warm and trusting, and behaviour is typically calm and purposeful.
• Leaders understand attendance factors and work closely with families and professionals.
• Staff are proud to work at the school and are generally well supported.

Areas for Improvement

• Teaching in the semi-formal pathway sometimes lacks a sharp focus on reinforcing and consolidating learning.
• Staff sometimes miss opportunities to extend or consolidate pupils’ foundational literacy and numeracy.
• Some staff lack sufficient knowledge and guidance to intervene effectively.
• Not all staff have consistently high ambitions for all pupils.
• High expectations for what all pupils can achieve are not yet firmly embedded across the school.
• Staff, including teaching assistants, need more guidance and training to help pupils consolidate and practise foundational knowledge.

In 2024–25 pupils at Heaton School attended 89.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 34.0% 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, 1.1% of pupils at Heaton 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 Heaton School had 6.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 6.2% 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 Heaton School had 94 pupils, 98.9% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; speech, language and communication needs; multi-sensory impairment; autistic spectrum disorder.

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 Heaton School received £37,539 and spent £35,818 for each of its 94 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £0 (£0 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 Heaton School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Heaton School is Expected standard, from an inspection in October 2026.

When was Heaton School last inspected by Ofsted?

Heaton School was last inspected in October 2026.

How many pupils does Heaton School have?

Heaton School has 94 pupils on roll.

What age range does Heaton School cover?

Heaton School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Heaton School?

Heaton School is at St James Road, Heaton Moor, Stockport, Cheshire, SK4 4RE.