Mountjoy School

Mountjoy School is performing well, showcasing a supportive environment for its pupils. The school has maintained a good overall effectiveness rating, with strong leadership and management, and high standards in personal development. Pupils demonstrate enthusiasm for learning and appreciate the tailored curriculum designed to foster their independence and communication skills. Parents express satisfaction with the care and support their children receive, emphasizing the positive relationships between staff and students.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy their learning and are eager to attend school.
• A bespoke curriculum focuses on developing pupils' independent skills.
• Strong parental satisfaction indicating effective communication and support.
• Excellent support for pupils' personal development and well-being.
• Effective safeguarding measures in place to ensure pupil safety.

Areas for Improvement

• Some subject leaders have not monitored their subjects effectively.

In 2024–25 pupils at Mountjoy School attended 91.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 24.5% 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, 0.9% of pupils at Mountjoy 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 Mountjoy School had 6.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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 Mountjoy School had 112 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; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

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 Mountjoy School received £33,873 and spent £32,778 for each of its 112 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £847,000 (£7,563 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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• Secondary Schools

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What is Mountjoy School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Mountjoy School is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.

When was Mountjoy School last inspected by Ofsted?

Mountjoy School was last inspected in January 2023.

How many pupils does Mountjoy School have?

Mountjoy School has 112 pupils on roll.

What age range does Mountjoy School cover?

Mountjoy School for pupils aged 4 to 19.

Where is Mountjoy School?

Mountjoy School is at Tunnel Road, Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3HB.