Bettridge School

Bettridge School continues to perform well, maintaining its status as a good school since the last inspection in February 2017. The school excels in providing a supportive environment where pupils with special educational needs feel cared for and confident in their learning. With a newly designed curriculum that offers tailored pathways for different learners, the school helps students achieve their educational goals, particularly through practical and engaging learning opportunities. Staff demonstrate high levels of skill in understanding and meeting the individual needs of each pupil, ensuring good behavior and emotional well-being throughout the school.

Strengths

• Strong relationships between staff and pupils fostering a supportive environment.
• Highly skilled staff who understand individual pupil needs.
• Tailored curriculum pathways enabling pupils to achieve well.
• Engaging practical and play-based learning activities.
• Effective safeguarding measures in place.
• Good communication and collaboration with parents and carers.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent curriculum sequencing across subjects and key stages.
• Lack of clarity on the expected outcomes from interventions.

In 2024–25 pupils at Bettridge School attended 87.9% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 37.7% 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, 0.7% of pupils at Bettridge 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 Bettridge School had 5.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.3% 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 Bettridge School had 145 pupils, 100.0% 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; physical disability; 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 Bettridge School received £36,761 and spent £39,580 for each of its 145 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £795,000 (-£5,481 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 Cheltenham · Gloucestershire local authority: places and applications

What is Bettridge School's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Bettridge School last inspected by Ofsted?

Bettridge School was last inspected in January 2023.

How many pupils does Bettridge School have?

Bettridge School has 145 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bettridge School cover?

Bettridge School for pupils aged 2 to 19.

What are Bettridge School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Bettridge School?

Bettridge School is at Warden Hill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 3AT.