Five Acre Wood School

Five Acre Wood School has been recognized for its exceptional performance, being graded as outstanding across all areas of evaluation. The school, which caters to pupils with profound, severe, and complex needs, has developed a highly effective and individualized educational approach, ensuring each child's curriculum is tailored to their specific aspirations and requirements. This is particularly significant given the increasing number of pupils attending the school in recent years. The leadership has demonstrated strong vision and commitment, maintaining high standards of education and care, which has fostered a positive learning environment for the students.

Strengths

• Outstanding quality of education across all areas.
• Highly skilled staff tailored support to individual student needs.
• Exceptional leadership with a clear focus on high standards.
• Effective communication strategies used throughout the curriculum.
• Strong partnerships with local colleges and community organizations.
• Thoughtfully designed personal development programs for pupils.

In 2024–25 pupils at Five Acre Wood School attended 88.7% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 33.5% 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, 1.6% of pupils at Five Acre Wood 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 Five Acre Wood School had 7.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.1% 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 Five Acre Wood School had 871 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; 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 Five Acre Wood School received £23,732 and spent £23,722 for each of its 871 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £3,076,000 (£3,532 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 Maidstone · Kent local authority: places and applications

Five Acre Wood School is part of Kent Special Educational Needs Trust (Ksent), which runs 11 schools. The nearest others:

• Nexus Foundation Special School Tonbridge
• Ifield School Gravesend
• Broomhill Bank School Tunbridge Wells
• The Orchard School Canterbury
• The Beacon Folkestone Folkestone
• Elms School Dover
• Laleham Gap School Ramsgate
• Foreland Fields School Ramsgate
• St Anthony's School Margate
• Stone Bay School Broadstairs

What is Five Acre Wood School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Five Acre Wood School is Outstanding, from an inspection in September 2024.

When was Five Acre Wood School last inspected by Ofsted?

Five Acre Wood School was last inspected in September 2024.

How many pupils does Five Acre Wood School have?

Five Acre Wood School has 871 pupils on roll.

What age range does Five Acre Wood School cover?

Five Acre Wood School for pupils aged 4 to 19.

What are Five Acre Wood School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Five Acre Wood School?

Five Acre Wood School is at Boughton Lane, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 9QF.