Rosewood Free School

Rosewood Free School continues to demonstrate outstanding performance in supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. The school, part of the Specialist Schools Trust Ltd, fosters a strong community environment where both pupils and their families feel included and valued. With exceptional staff collaboration and a tailored curriculum, the school effectively meets the individual needs of its pupils, ensuring they make significant progress academically and socially, preparing them well for adulthood.

Strengths

• Exceptional support for pupils' special educational needs and disabilities.
• Strong sense of community and family involvement.
• Highly personalized and tailored curriculum.
• Effective multi-disciplinary team collaboration.
• Pupils demonstrate significant progress in learning and personal development.
• Excellent preparation for adulthood with personalized pathways.

In 2024–25 pupils at Rosewood Free School attended 90.1% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 35.7% 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 Rosewood Free 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 Rosewood Free School had 5.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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 Rosewood Free School had 77 pupils, 87.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: profound and multiple learning difficulty.

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 2024–25 Rosewood Free School received £41,900 and spent £43,874 for each of its 70 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £808,000 (£11,543 per pupil).

Across all 2 schools of Specialist Schools Trust Ltd, income was £29,737 and spending £29,618 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Southampton · Southampton local authority: places and applications

Rosewood Free School is part of Specialist Schools Trust Ltd, which runs 2 schools. The nearest others:

• Great Oaks School Southampton

What is Rosewood Free School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Rosewood Free School is Outstanding, from an inspection in November 2023.

When was Rosewood Free School last inspected by Ofsted?

Rosewood Free School was last inspected in November 2023.

How many pupils does Rosewood Free School have?

Rosewood Free School has 77 pupils on roll.

What age range does Rosewood Free School cover?

Rosewood Free School for pupils aged 2 to 19.

Where is Rosewood Free School?

Rosewood Free School is at Aldermoor Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 5NA.