The Shires
The Shires is an independent special school in Rutland for pupils aged 11 to 19. It has 29 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for The Shires is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.
Ofsted inspection: April 2024.
| Type | Independent School / Other independent special school |
| Age Range | 11-19 |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Address | Shires Lane Stretton Rutland LE15 7GT |
| Phone | 01780411944 |
| Reference Number | 131018 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 29 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 75.86%
Girls: 24.14% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 8 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 9 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 10 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 11 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 12 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 13 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|
The Shires is an independent school catering to pupils aged 11 to 19 with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). It is performing well overall, demonstrating steady progress since its last inspection in 2019. Strengths include outstanding behaviour and attitudes among pupils, along with a strong emphasis on personal development. The school ensures that pupils feel safe, valued, and motivated to learn, with effective emotional support and a curriculum tailored to meet their individual needs. While the quality of education is rated as good, there are areas marked for improvement to enhance teaching effectiveness further.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 27 Feb 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 27 Feb 2024 | Standard inspection: |
| 02 Feb 2023 | Additional inspection |
| 02 Jul 2019 | Standard inspection: |
| 11 Sep 2018 | Additional inspection |
| 12 Dec 2017 | Additional inspection |
| 01 Mar 2017 | Additional inspection |
| 23 Feb 2016 | Standard inspection: |
| 03 Jul 2012 | Standard inspection: |
| 20 Jan 2009 | Standard inspection: |
Strengths
- Outstanding pupil behaviour and attitudes
- Effective emotional support for students
- Strong personal development programme
- Curriculum tailored to meet individual learners' needs
- High levels of care provided by all staff
- Strong relationships with parents and carers
- Ambitious goals set for pupils' futures
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff lack expertise in teaching reading
- New curriculum leaders require more information to guide development
- A few support staff do not adequately assist pupils' learning
In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at The Shires were on SEN support (nationally 18.4%) and 100.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 7.9%).
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 independent school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.
| Name | Distance |
|
Cottesmore Academy
Kendrew Barracks, Cottesmore, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7BA |
2.42 miles |
|
South Witham Academy
Water Lane, South Witham, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG33 5PH |
2.7 miles |
|
Exton and Greetham CofE Primary School
Garden Road, Exton, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8AY |
3.05 miles |
|
St Nicholas Church of England Primary School
Mill Lane, Cottesmore, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7DL |
3.11 miles |
|
Empingham Church of England Primary School
School Lane, Empingham, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8PQ |
4.27 miles |
|
Bythams Primary School
Creeton Road, Little Bytham, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG33 4PX |
4.58 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Wilds Lodge School
Stamford Road, Empingham, Oakham, LE15 8QQ |
4.92 miles |
All schools in Rutland · Rutland local authority: places and applications
What is The Shires's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for The Shires is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.
When was The Shires last inspected by Ofsted?
The Shires was last inspected in April 2024.
How many pupils does The Shires have?
The Shires has 29 pupils on roll.
What age range does The Shires cover?
The Shires for pupils aged 11 to 19.
Where is The Shires?
The Shires is at Shires Lane, Stretton, Rutland, LE15 7GT.