Brook Green Centre for Learning

Brook Green Centre for Learning is a special school for pupils with cognition and learning needs and social, emotional and mental health needs; all pupils have an education, health and care plan. Inspectors found strong provision across the school: the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management are good, while personal development is a standout strength. Safeguarding arrangements are effective, governance is strong, staff are proud to work at the school, and parents are highly positive. Pupils are well mannered, respectful and kind, and they build very strong, trusting relationships with staff and each other. The school has high expectations and pupils are successful learners who are well prepared for life beyond school. The personal development curriculum is exceptionally well designed, including careers, enrichment, outdoor learning and Duke of Edinburgh participation. Pupils benefit from a calm, orderly environment and bespoke behaviour support, and attendance has improved through strong pastoral work. The main areas for improvement are precise use of reading and writing assessment in some subjects, where teaching is not yet consistently adapted to pupils’ needs, and the regular attendance of pupils in receipt of pupil premium funding. Overall, the school is performing well and provides a well-rounded, supportive education for its pupils.

Strengths

• High expectations for pupils’ social, emotional and academic achievement
• Pupils are successful learners who value a range of subjects
• Pupils learn exceptionally well to interact socially and are respectful and kind
• Very strong, trusting relationships between pupils and staff
• Exceptionally well-designed personal development curriculum
• Well-planned and ambitious curriculum in many subject areas
• Effective early reading support and staff training in adaptive teaching
• Strong careers programme and rich enrichment opportunities
• Calm, orderly learning environment with bespoke behaviour support
• Strong governance and overwhelmingly positive staff and parent views
• Effective safeguarding arrangements

Areas for Improvement

• Assessment of pupils’ reading and writing knowledge is not used precisely enough in some subjects, so some pupils struggle to access learning
• Pupils in receipt of pupil premium funding do not attend school regularly enough

In 2024–25 pupils at Brook Green Centre for Learning attended 89.7% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 25.7% 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, 3.8% of pupils at Brook Green Centre for Learning 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 Brook Green Centre for Learning had 5.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 4.0% 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 Brook Green Centre for Learning had 111 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; hearing 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 Brook Green Centre for Learning received £31,479 and spent £30,826 for each of its 111 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £243,000 (£2,193 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 Brook Green Centre for Learning's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Brook Green Centre for Learning is Good, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was Brook Green Centre for Learning last inspected by Ofsted?

Brook Green Centre for Learning was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Brook Green Centre for Learning have?

Brook Green Centre for Learning has 111 pupils on roll.

What age range does Brook Green Centre for Learning cover?

Brook Green Centre for Learning for pupils aged 11 to 16.

Where is Brook Green Centre for Learning?

Brook Green Centre for Learning is at Bodmin Road, Whitleigh, Plymouth, Devon, PL5 4DZ.