Sunnydown School

Sunnydown School has demonstrated outstanding performance across all areas, from the quality of education to leadership and management. Pupils thrive in an environment characterized by high ambitions and strong support from staff, which cultivates their enthusiasm and focus in learning. The school successfully balances both academic and personal development, ensuring that students are well-prepared for their future educational endeavors. With a rich curriculum and an emphasis on personal development, pupils leave Sunnydown equipped with essential knowledge and skills.

Strengths

• Highly committed leadership focused on providing the best educational experience.
• Inventive and ambitious curriculum that balances academic and personal learning.
• Teachers are skilled experts in supporting pupils with special educational needs.
• Strong relationships between pupils and staff foster a trusting environment.
• Pupils actively contribute to their school and local communities.
• Well-structured personal development and career guidance from Year 7.
• Effective safeguarding arrangements ensuring pupil safety.

In 2024–25 pupils at Sunnydown School attended 92.6% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 20.9% 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, 6.6% of pupils at Sunnydown 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 Sunnydown School had 6.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.5% 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 Sunnydown School had 91 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; speech, language and communication needs; vision impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

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 Sunnydown School received £29,733 and spent £29,589 for each of its 91 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £959,000 (£10,540 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 Caterham · Surrey local authority: places and applications

What is Sunnydown School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Sunnydown School is Outstanding, from an inspection in July 2023.

When was Sunnydown School last inspected by Ofsted?

Sunnydown School was last inspected in July 2023.

How many pupils does Sunnydown School have?

Sunnydown School has 91 pupils on roll.

What age range does Sunnydown School cover?

Sunnydown School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Sunnydown School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 28.1, and 19% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Sunnydown School?

Sunnydown School is at Portley House, 152 Whyteleafe Road, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 5ED.