The Meadows School

The Meadows School is performing well overall, meeting the expected standards for a special school that caters to pupils with profound, severe, and moderate learning difficulties, including complex medical needs and physical disabilities. The school's strengthening leadership has created a caring environment where pupils feel safe and valued. There are clear systems in place for monitoring attendance and behaviour, enabling pupils to develop confidence and independence while achieving their personal and academic goals.

Strengths

• Strong focus on pupil communication and independence.
• Effective safeguarding practices ensuring pupil safety.
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils.
• Pupils engage well with a broad and ambitious curriculum.
• Leaders are committed to staff development and wellbeing.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Meadows School attended 87.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 35.3% 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 The Meadows 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 The Meadows School had 8.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.3% 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 The Meadows School had 262 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; social, emotional and mental health; 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 2023–24 The Meadows School received £29,265 and spent £28,979 for each of its 215 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £688,000 (£3,200 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 Oldbury · Sandwell local authority: places and applications

What is The Meadows School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Meadows School is Expected standard, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was The Meadows School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Meadows School was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does The Meadows School have?

The Meadows School has 262 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Meadows School cover?

The Meadows School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is The Meadows School?

The Meadows School is at The Meadows School, Dudley Road East, Sandwell, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 3BU.