Stone Hill School

Stone Hill School is a highly inclusive and nurturing special school where pupils thrive academically, socially and personally. Inspectors found exceptional provision across the curriculum, behaviour, personal development, leadership and sixth form. Staff build strong relationships with pupils and families, use pupils’ EHC plans to shape learning and support precisely, and ensure pupils are well prepared for adulthood, further education, employment or training. The curriculum is ambitious, coherent and well delivered, with skilful teaching and strong checking of pupils’ knowledge. Reading is a clear priority and pupils read daily with enthusiasm. Behaviour is exemplary, attendance is high, and pupils benefit from a wide range of enrichment, outdoor education, careers activity, work experience and residential experiences. Post-16 provision is particularly strong, with students gaining suitable accreditations and an increasing number accessing GCSEs. This was the school’s first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a community special school for pupils aged 5 to 19, all of whom have an EHC plan, and most pupils have a diagnosis of autism. Leaders and governors are dedicated and outward-looking, safeguarding arrangements are effective, and no areas for improvement were identified in the report.

Strengths

• Exceptionally well-designed and coherent curriculum matched precisely to pupils’ needs and stages of learning
• Outstanding post-16 provision that nurtures responsible young people and offers suitable accreditations, including growing access to GCSEs
• High-quality teaching with expert checking of understanding and effective revisiting to close gaps
• Strong, precise phonics teaching and a clear determination that all pupils learn to read
• Pupils behave exemplarily, have positive attitudes and attend well
• Personal development is central, helping pupils become independent, resilient and involved in their community
• A broad enrichment offer including lunchtime clubs, trips, residential experiences, outdoor education and the Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Comprehensive careers programme that prepares pupils well for further education, employment or training
• Staff build trusting, supportive relationships with pupils and work closely with parents and carers
• Governors provide dedicated support and direction, and leaders share expertise through outreach work
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

In 2024–25 pupils at Stone Hill School attended 93.8% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 15.2% 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, 4.2% of pupils at Stone Hill 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 Stone Hill School had 7.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 4.3% 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 Stone Hill School had 182 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty; vision impairment; autistic spectrum disorder.

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 Stone Hill School received £22,665 and spent £21,287 for each of its 182 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £467,000 (£2,566 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 Stone Hill School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Stone Hill School is Outstanding, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was Stone Hill School last inspected by Ofsted?

Stone Hill School was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does Stone Hill School have?

Stone Hill School has 182 pupils on roll.

What age range does Stone Hill School cover?

Stone Hill School for pupils aged 5 to 19.

What are Stone Hill School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Stone Hill School?

Stone Hill School is at Barnsley Road, Scawsby, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN5 7UB.