Stony Dean School
Stony Dean School is a community special school in Amersham for pupils aged 11 to 18. It has 215 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Stony Dean School is Outstanding, from an inspection in January 2025.
Ofsted inspection: January 2025.
| Type | Special School / Community special school |
| Age Range | 11-18 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Orchard End Avenue Pineapple Road Amersham Buckinghamshire HP7 9JW |
| Phone | 01494762007 |
| Reference Number | 110579 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 215 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 98.14%
Girls: 1.86% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 41.4% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 9.3% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 31 | Unknown | 31 |
| 8 | 34 | Unknown | 34 |
| 9 | 33 | 2 | 35 |
| 10 | 33 | 1 | 34 |
| 11 | 35 | Unknown | 35 |
| 12 | 25 | Unknown | 25 |
| 13 | 20 | 1 | 21 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 70.2% |
| Pakistani | 10.2% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 5.6% |
| Indian | 2.8% |
| White, Other | 2.3% |
| Asian, Other | 1.9% |
| African | 1.4% |
| White & Asian | 0.9% |
| Unclassified | 0.9% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.9% |
| Mixed, Other | 0.9% |
| Caribbean | 0.5% |
Stony Dean School is performing at a high level, having effectively maintained the outstanding standards identified in its previous inspection. The school excels in providing personalized support for its students, who all have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). With a well-designed and adaptive curriculum, pupils demonstrate positive attitudes and exceptional behavior, flourishing in a supportive environment. The focus on personal development and life skills is deeply integrated into the school’s ethos, empowering students to take control of their lives and prepare for adulthood successfully.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Last Report Date | 03 Dec 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 03 Dec 2024 | School inspection |
| 05 Mar 2019 | Short inspection |
| 05 Nov 2014 | Full inspection: |
| 06 Mar 2013 | Monitoring visit |
| 21 Nov 2012 | Full inspection: |
| 08 Dec 2009 | Full inspection: |
| 10 May 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 25 Feb 2002 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Highly skilled staff effectively support pupils with SEND.
- Curriculum is tailored to meet each pupil's individual needs.
- Pupils display highly positive attitudes and exceptional behavior.
- Strong focus on personal development and skills for adulthood.
- Effective reading program that significantly improves pupils' reading knowledge.
- Comprehensive careers education and guidance for pupils.
Destinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Further Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > School Sixth Form | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Sixth Form College | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Other Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Apprenticeships | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Employment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Not in education or employment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Unknown | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
In 2024–25 pupils at Stony Dean School attended 88.7% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 31.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 5.3% | 7.6% | 6.4% | 7.6% | 9.0% | 9.1% | 25.1% | 10.0% | 9.6% | 8.8% | 9.9% |
| Unauthorised absence | 0.4% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.4% |
| Severely absent pupils | 0.8% | 6.4% | 1.6% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 7.2% | 6.0% | 5.7% | 3.3% | 5.7% |
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, 10.3% of pupils at Stony Dean School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 6.0 | 1.8 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 11.4 | 12.6 | 14.9 | 6.8 | 8.1 | 12.2 | 22.5 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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 Stony Dean School had 6.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 7.1 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.8 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 9.4% | 30.3% | 12.4% | 14.6% | 4.0% | 16.1% | 4.0% | 3.9% | 2.3% | 7.2% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 12.1% | 9.2% | 6.2% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 79.3% | 80.8% | 84.0% | 74.1% | 75.0% | 48.1% | 48.3% | 77.4% | 82.1% | – | 72.7% | 97.0% | 71.1% | 73.0% | 51.4% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 10.8 | 13.8 | 4.4 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 4.2 | 5.0 | – | 6.4 | 7.4 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 2.8 | – |
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 Stony Dean School had 215 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; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; autistic spectrum disorder.
Pupils by main type of need
| EHC plan | |
|---|---|
| Speech, language and communication needs | 70 |
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 62 |
| Moderate learning difficulty | 48 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 15 |
| Specific learning difficulty | 8 |
| Physical disability | 6 |
| Severe learning difficulty | 4 |
| Other difficulty or disability | 1 |
| Vision impairment | 1 |
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 Stony Dean School received £29,083 and spent £28,512 for each of its 215 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £374,000 (£1,738 per pupil).
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £126,000 | £31,000 | £43,000 | £91,000 | £136,000 | £259,000 | £251,000 | £374,000 |
| per pupil | £718 | £173 | £222 | £441 | £644 | £1,214 | £1,178 | £1,738 |
| In-year balance | -£22,000 | -£95,000 | £12,000 | £48,000 | £45,000 | £123,000 | -£8,000 | £123,000 |
| per pupil | -£126 | -£521 | £60 | £231 | £213 | £576 | -£36 | £571 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).
| Name | Distance |
|
St George's Church of England Infant School
White Lion Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 9HX |
0.21 miles |
|
Henry Allen Nursery School
Mitchell Walk, Amersham, HP6 6NW |
0.48 miles |
|
Woodside Junior School
Mitchell Walk, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 6NW |
0.51 miles |
|
Chalfont Valley E-ACT Primary Academy
Bell Lane, Little Chalfont, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 6PF |
0.66 miles |
|
Home Tuition Service
Council Offices, Amersham, HP6 5BY |
0.77 miles |
|
Chestnut Lane School
105 Chestnut Lane, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 6EF |
0.9 miles |
|
Elangeni School
Woodside Avenue, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 6EG |
0.96 miles |
|
Heatherton School
10 Copperkins Lane, Amersham, HP6 5QB |
1.35 miles |
|
Chesham Bois Church of England School
128 Bois Lane, Chesham Bois, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 6DE |
1.38 miles |
|
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham
School Lane, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 0EL |
1.41 miles |
|
Little Chalfont Primary School
Oakington Avenue, Little Chalfont, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 6SX |
1.43 miles |
|
The Beacon School
Amersham Road, Amersham, HP6 5PF |
1.68 miles |
|
Our Lady's Catholic Primary School
Amersham Road, Chesham Bois, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 5PL |
1.81 miles |
|
Waterside Primary Academy
Blackhorse Avenue, Waterside, Chesham, Waterside Primary Academy, Black Horse Avenue, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 1QU |
1.85 miles |
|
Chenies School
Chenies, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 6ER |
2.4 miles |
|
Coleshill Church of England Infant School
Village Road, Coleshill, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 0LQ |
2.43 miles |
|
Thomas Harding Junior School
Thomas Harding Junior School, Fullers Hill, Thomas Harding Junior School, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 1LR |
2.44 miles |
|
Chalfont St Giles Infant School and Nursery
School Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, HP8 4JJ |
2.75 miles |
|
The Russell School
Brushwood Drive, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 5RR |
2.77 miles |
|
Ley Hill School
The Green, Ley Hill, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 1YF |
2.8 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Amersham School
Stanley Hill, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 9HH |
0.34 miles |
|
Dr Challoner's High School
Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 9QB |
0.78 miles |
|
Dr Challoner's Grammar School
Chesham Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 5HA |
1.05 miles |
|
Chesham Grammar School
White Hill, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 1BA |
2.73 miles |
|
Heritage House School
Cameron Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 3BP |
2.96 miles |
|
Chiltern Hills Academy
Chartridge Lane, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2RG |
3.09 miles |
|
St Clement Danes School
Chenies Road, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 6EW |
3.18 miles |
|
Alfriston School
Penn Road, Knotty Green, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 2TS |
4.19 miles |
|
The Chalfonts Community College
Narcot Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, SL9 8TP |
4.24 miles |
|
The Reach Free School
Long Lane, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 8AB |
4.39 miles |
|
Holmer Green Senior School
Parish Piece, Holmer Green, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP15 6SP |
4.75 miles |
All schools in Amersham · Buckinghamshire local authority: places and applications
What is Stony Dean School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Stony Dean School is Outstanding, from an inspection in January 2025.
When was Stony Dean School last inspected by Ofsted?
Stony Dean School was last inspected in January 2025.
How many pupils does Stony Dean School have?
Stony Dean School has 215 pupils on roll.
What age range does Stony Dean School cover?
Stony Dean School for pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is Stony Dean School?
Stony Dean School is at Orchard End Avenue, Pineapple Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 9JW.