Greenside School

Greenside School has effectively maintained the good standards established in its previous inspection. The school creates a welcoming environment where pupils are eager to learn and build strong relationships. Staff demonstrate high expectations for pupils and provide a range of experiences that prepare them well for life after school. The focus on communication and tailored support helps students to thrive, especially those with special educational needs. However, leadership changes have led to some inconsistencies in teaching practice and monitoring of educational impact, indicating areas for growth.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy a welcoming environment that supports their settling into class.
• Staff are attentive to pupils’ specific needs and have high expectations.
• Effective focus on communication skills is integral throughout the school.
• Reading is a central part of the curriculum, engaging pupils through stories and activities.
• Strong preparation for adulthood with relevant work experiences and community engagement.
• Effective support for staff wellbeing contributing to a positive school culture.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent subject knowledge among staff affecting teaching quality.
• Support provided by staff sometimes does not align with pupils' learning needs.
• Lack of clarity in leadership monitoring limits understanding of school impact on education.

In 2024–25 pupils at Greenside School attended 86.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 39.3% 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 Greenside 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 Greenside School had 7.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.0% 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 Greenside School had 197 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific 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.

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 Greenside School received £30,339 and spent £30,474 for each of its 197 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £229,000 (£1,163 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

All schools in Stevenage · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Greenside School's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Greenside School last inspected by Ofsted?

Greenside School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Greenside School have?

Greenside School has 197 pupils on roll.

What age range does Greenside School cover?

Greenside School for pupils aged 2 to 19.

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

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

Where is Greenside School?

Greenside School is at Shephall Green, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 9XS.