Meadows School

Meadows School is a Barnardo’s-owned non-maintained special school for pupils aged 7 to 19 with social, emotional and mental health needs, all of whom have education, health and care plans; many also have additional SEND, and the primary phase is on a separate site from the secondary and sixth-form provision. This graded inspection found that the school has improved since its previous inspection, with strong personal development and sixth-form provision and good quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. Safeguarding is effective, and current inspection arrangements mean no single overall effectiveness grade is awarded. Pupils are described as valued and well supported in a kind, safe and respectful culture, with staff and therapists helping them understand their SEMH needs and communicate feelings. Personal development is exceptional, enrichment and careers education are excellent, and the sixth form is especially strong. The school has raised expectations, improved behaviour and attendance monitoring, and introduced a consistent systematic synthetic phonics approach that is helping pupils of all ages close reading gaps. The main area for improvement is the consistency of teaching and learning in some subjects where curriculums have recently been redesigned. Leaders have focused closely on English but have not checked teaching quality as thoroughly in other subjects, so some pupils are not learning as well as they should. The school needs to ensure all academic subjects are consistently well designed and delivered to a high standard.

Strengths

• Creates a kind, safe and respectful culture where pupils feel valued
• Supports pupils’ social, emotional and mental health needs well
• Provides exceptional personal development opportunities
• Offers excellent enrichment, trips and visits, including Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities
• Provides excellent careers information, advice and guidance
• Has exceptionally strong sixth-form provision
• Uses systematic synthetic phonics consistently to help pupils improve reading
• Has raised expectations for pupils’ achievement
• Adapts the curriculum well to meet pupils’ specific SEMH needs
• Improved behaviour and attendance monitoring helps leaders spot and act on trends
• Additional staff training has reduced incidents and helped create a calmer school
• Personalised, nurturing support helps pupils improve attendance
• Staff enjoy working in an inclusive culture focused on well-being, safety and development
• Governance provides effective support and challenge
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• Teaching and learning are inconsistent in some recently redesigned subjects
• Some pupils are not learning as well as they should in those subjects
• Leaders have not monitored teaching quality as closely in subjects beyond English
• The school must ensure all academic subjects are consistently well designed and delivered to a high standard

In 2024–25 pupils at Meadows School attended 79.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 64.0% 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, 50.0% of pupils at Meadows 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 Meadows School had 65 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 98.6%).

It says it provides for: social, emotional and mental health.

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 non-maintained special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Tunbridge Wells · Kent local authority: places and applications

What is Meadows School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Meadows School is Good, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was Meadows School last inspected by Ofsted?

Meadows School was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does Meadows School have?

Meadows School has 65 pupils on roll.

What age range does Meadows School cover?

Meadows School for pupils aged 7 to 19.

Where is Meadows School?

Meadows School is at London Road, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 0RJ.