Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School

Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School continues to uphold the high standards set at its previous inspection, demonstrating effective practices that ensure all pupils, who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), progress well. The school fosters a supportive environment where pupils embody values like positivity, tolerance, and friendship, leading to exemplary behaviour and engagement in their learning. With a strong focus on developing communication and practical life skills, pupils are prepared effectively for their future education and lives beyond school. While the overall provision remains exceptional, the school is currently adapting aspects of its curriculum, necessitating ongoing professional development for staff. The governing body plays an active role, providing support and challenge to sustain improvements. This ungraded inspection serves as the first evaluation since the school was noted as outstanding in April 2019, evidencing its commitment to continuous enhancement of educational quality.

Strengths

• Positive and supportive environment fostering friendship and tolerance.
• Remarkably high aspirations for pupils' achievement.
• Expert delivery of a tailored and ambitious curriculum.
• Strong focus on communication and reading skills development.
• Opportunities for pupils to take on responsibilities and develop life skills.
• Effective safeguarding arrangements.

Areas for Improvement

• Staff are still gaining understanding of new curriculum initiatives.

In 2024–25 pupils at Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School attended 90.1% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 29.9% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Ashgate Specialist Support Primary 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 Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School had 7.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.2% 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 Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School had 157 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; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory 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 Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School received £27,696 and spent £27,080 for each of its 157 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £256,000 (£1,632 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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What is Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School have?

Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School has 157 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School cover?

Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School?

Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School is at Crossacres Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, Lancashire, M22 5DR.