Rosehill School

Rosehill School is a community special school for pupils aged 4 to 19, all of whom have autism and an education, health and care plan. Inspectors found an exceptionally strong school where pupils are happy, safe and thrive in a calm, purposeful environment. Teaching and care are highly personalised, relationships are nurturing and respectful, and pupils’ complex needs are understood extremely well. The curriculum is ambitious and carefully mapped across three pathways, with pupils’ personal targets and EHC plan outcomes at its centre. Reading and communication are prioritised, and pupils become confident readers, signers and communicators. Behaviour and personal development are notable strengths. Pupils respond very well to high expectations, follow routines confidently and are supported to manage anxiety and develop independence. Attendance is high, and the school works effectively with families and external services when support is needed. There is a strong focus on preparation for adulthood, including careers education, study programmes and accreditations for older students. Pupils benefit from a wide range of enrichment, leadership roles and community activities, and they are well prepared for their next steps. Leadership is highly effective at all levels, including governance, and staff value the strong commitment to training, workload and well-being. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The school was previously judged outstanding and continues to demonstrate outstanding provision across all key judgements, including sixth form. There were no children on roll in the early years phase at the time of inspection, so no separate early years judgement was made. No significant areas for improvement were identified in the report.

Strengths

• Expert teaching and care enable pupils with complex autism needs to feel safe, happy and successful.
• Positive, nurturing relationships and a culture of respect underpin the school’s calm and purposeful atmosphere.
• The curriculum is ambitious, well established and highly personalised to pupils’ EHC plans, needs and interests.
• Pupils’ progression is carefully mapped across the discovery, explorers and investigators pathways.
• Small class groups and seamless staff teamwork provide highly effective, well-adapted teaching and support.
• The school has strengthened early reading, and well-trained staff deliver phonics with skill and confidence.
• Pupils become fluent, confident readers, signers and communicators, with extra help identified quickly.
• Behaviour support is outstanding and helps pupils understand feelings, manage anxiety and develop independence.
• Pupils have impressive attitudes to learning and consistently high rates of attendance.
• Personal development is exceptionally well promoted through leadership roles, enrichment, cultural opportunities and community engagement.
• Preparation for adulthood is a sustained priority, with strong careers education and suitable accreditations for older students.
• Leadership, governance and staff development are highly effective, with strong support for workload and well-being.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

In 2024–25 pupils at Rosehill School attended 92.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 15.5% 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, 1.7% of pupils at Rosehill 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 Rosehill School had 7.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 33.0% 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 Rosehill School had 121 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty; 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 Rosehill School received £36,197 and spent £36,642 for each of its 122 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £422,000 (£3,463 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

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What is Rosehill School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Rosehill School is Outstanding, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Rosehill School last inspected by Ofsted?

Rosehill School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Rosehill School have?

Rosehill School has 121 pupils on roll.

What age range does Rosehill School cover?

Rosehill School for pupils aged 4 to 19.

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

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

Where is Rosehill School?

Rosehill School is at St Matthias Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG3 2FE.