Greenbank School

Greenbank School is a community special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 with autism, speech, language and communication needs, and moderate learning difficulties. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. Following its previous requires improvement judgement, the January 2025 inspection found the school performing well: behaviour and attitudes are exceptional, while the quality of education, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision are good. Safeguarding is effective. No overall effectiveness grade is given under the current inspection framework. Pupils are described as exceptionally well behaved, polite and kind, and they benefit from a happy and supportive ethos. Leaders have raised curriculum ambition, teaching is well adapted for pupils with SEND, reading is a high priority, and careers education is strong from Year 7 into the sixth form. Pupils also benefit from well-considered personal development, including leadership opportunities, diversity events and learning about British values. Staff workload and wellbeing are supported effectively. The main areas for improvement are the key stage 4 curriculum and pupil voice. Pupils in key stage 4 do not study a sufficiently broad range of subjects—for example, performing arts and music are not offered—which limits their choices for the next stage. In addition, some pupils feel that the school does not listen to their views sufficiently well, and leaders should create more opportunities for pupils to share their opinions about school life.

Strengths

• Pupils behave exceptionally well and show impeccable manners, kindness and empathy.
• The school has high expectations and pupils rise to them and achieve well.
• Teachers skilfully consider pupils’ SEND and adapt materials and resources to engage them.
• Reading is a high priority, with expert support for pupils who fall behind.
• Personal development is well considered, including leadership, diversity and British values.
• Careers education is strong from Year 7 through to the sixth form.
• Sixth-form students organise whole-school events and take part in work experience.
• Staff workload and wellbeing are supported effectively.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Areas for Improvement

• Key stage 4 pupils do not study a sufficiently broad curriculum; performing arts and music are missing, limiting future choices.
• Some pupils feel the school does not listen to their views sufficiently well.

In 2024–25 pupils at Greenbank School attended 90.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 30.1% 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 Greenbank 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 Greenbank School had 7.6 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 Greenbank School had 129 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty; speech, language and communication needs; 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 Greenbank School received £28,216 and spent £26,806 for each of its 129 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £608,000 (£4,711 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).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Northwich · Cheshire West and Chester local authority: places and applications

What is Greenbank School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Greenbank School is Good, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Greenbank School last inspected by Ofsted?

Greenbank School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Greenbank School have?

Greenbank School has 129 pupils on roll.

What age range does Greenbank School cover?

Greenbank School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is Greenbank School?

Greenbank School is at Greenbank Lane, Hartford, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 1LD.