Granta School

Granta School is currently rated as requiring improvement overall, following its recent inspection in April 2024. Despite a positive and inclusive environment where pupils feel safe and well cared for, the school struggles with the quality of education delivered due to significant staff changes and absences. These have slowed down improvements and led to inconsistencies in teaching, resulting in many pupils not being fully engaged in their learning. Challenges also remain in developing a robust curriculum that provides a cohesive educational experience for all students.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy school and have strong relationships with staff.
• Pupils thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• The PSHE programme effectively promotes understanding of diverse lifestyles.
• Many pupils leave with qualifications that facilitate college placement.
• Where focused teaching occurs, pupils engage well and learn effectively.

Areas for Improvement

• The curriculum lacks sufficient guidance for consistent teaching.
• Inconsistencies in teaching quality affect pupil engagement.
• Staff turnover has hindered rapid improvement in education quality.
• Some staff lack skills to effectively support pupils with SEND.

In 2024–25 pupils at Granta School attended 92.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 22.1% 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, 1.1% of pupils at Granta 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 Granta School had 8.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.2% 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 Granta School had 185 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 2025–26 Granta School received £27,976 and spent £30,345 for each of its 185 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £640,000 (-£3,458 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 Granta School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Granta School is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Granta School last inspected by Ofsted?

Granta School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Granta School have?

Granta School has 185 pupils on roll.

What age range does Granta School cover?

Granta School for pupils aged 2 to 19.

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

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

Where is Granta School?

Granta School is at Cambridge Road, Linton, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB21 4NN.