Breakspeare School

Breakspeare School is a community special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 with severe learning difficulties or severe and profound multiple learning difficulties, including autism and sensory impairments. All pupils have an EHC plan. It is part of the Sunflower Federation with Meadow Wood School, sharing a headteacher, senior leadership team and governing body, and it is expanding, with satellite provision currently in place and a new building expected in 2026. The inspection found outstanding provision in the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form. Early years provision was not graded because there were not enough children enrolled at the time of inspection. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. Pupils receive exceptional care from staff who are closely attuned to their needs, and this helps create a calm, secure and purposeful environment. Routines and respectful relationships support high standards of behaviour, while community visits and carefully planned learning build independence, communication and writing skills. The curriculum is precise and child-centred, aligned closely with EHC plans, and uses evidence-informed approaches to communication and reading, including sensory storytelling. The sixth form is a notable strength: students follow tailored qualifications and benefit from work-related learning and clear pathways to college or specialised provision. The personal development programme is exceptionally strong, covering responsibility, respect, physical and mental health, and social skills, with careers education embedded throughout school life. Leaders and governors are ambitious, staff feel well supported, and professional development helps maintain a highly skilled workforce. Inspectors identified no substantive weaknesses in the report; the only limitation noted is that early years provision could not be judged because of insufficient pupil numbers.

Strengths

• Exceptional care with staff deeply attuned to pupils' needs and dignity
• Calm, purposeful environment with established routines and respectful relationships
• Community visits build independence, communication and real-world writing skills
• Precise, child-centred curriculum aligned closely with EHC plans
• Evidence-informed teaching of communication and reading, including sensory storytelling
• Sixth form curriculum uncovers talents and supports horticulture and work experience pathways
• Exceptional personal development programme covering responsibility, health and social skills
• Embedded careers programme with work experience and well-planned transitions
• Ambitious leadership and governance with strong staff development and wellbeing support
• Effective safeguarding arrangements

In 2024–25 pupils at Breakspeare School attended 85.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 46.9% 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, 2.2% of pupils at Breakspeare 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 Breakspeare School had 7.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 29.2% 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 Breakspeare School had 157 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty.

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 Breakspeare School received £32,894 and spent £31,689 for each of its 157 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £909,000 (£5,787 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 Three Rivers · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Breakspeare School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Breakspeare School is Outstanding, from an inspection in October 2024.

When was Breakspeare School last inspected by Ofsted?

Breakspeare School was last inspected in October 2024.

How many pupils does Breakspeare School have?

Breakspeare School has 157 pupils on roll.

What age range does Breakspeare School cover?

Breakspeare School for pupils aged 2 to 19.

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

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

Where is Breakspeare School?

Breakspeare School is at Gallows Hill Lane, Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, WD5 0BU.