INSPIRE Free Special School

INSPIRE Free Special School is currently navigating challenges related to governance and attendance, but it has effective safeguarding arrangements in place. The school serves pupils with social, emotional, and mental health needs, many of whom have faced exclusion or poor attendance in prior educational settings. Despite a recent increase in pupil enrollment, efforts to enhance behaviour management have led to a decrease in incidents and suspensions. However, attendance remains a concern that leaders are actively working to improve through tailored strategies and incentives.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe and supported by staff.
• Effective safeguarding arrangements are in place.
• Staff manage pupils' behaviour well, leading to a reduction in incidents.
• Strong culture of sharing information among staff regarding behaviour.
• Pupils are proud of their achievements and demonstrate courtesy.

Areas for Improvement

• Pupils' attendance is too low.
• Therapeutic curriculum needs to better meet individual needs.
• Individual plans and risk assessments lack sufficient detail.
• Communication with parents needs improvement.

In 2024–25 pupils at INSPIRE Free Special School attended 61.1% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 74.8% 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, 33.3% of pupils at INSPIRE Free Special School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). 2 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 INSPIRE Free Special School had 5.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.9% 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 INSPIRE Free Special School had 98 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: social, emotional and mental health.

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 INSPIRE Free Special School received £32,871 and spent £37,583 for each of its 90 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £444,000 (£4,933 per pupil).

Across all 6 schools of Rivermead Inclusive Trust, income was £9,787 and spending £10,366 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 Chatham · Medway local authority: places and applications

INSPIRE Free Special School is part of Rivermead Inclusive Trust, which runs 6 schools. The nearest others:

• Walderslade Primary School Chatham
• Luton Primary School Chatham
• The Academy of Woodlands Gillingham
• Rivermead School Gillingham
• Hoo St Werburgh Primary School and the Marlborough Rochester

What is INSPIRE Free Special School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for INSPIRE Free Special School is Good, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was INSPIRE Free Special School last inspected by Ofsted?

INSPIRE Free Special School was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does INSPIRE Free Special School have?

INSPIRE Free Special School has 98 pupils on roll.

What age range does INSPIRE Free Special School cover?

INSPIRE Free Special School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is INSPIRE Free Special School?

INSPIRE Free Special School is at Churchill Avenue, Silverbank, Chatham, Kent, ME5 0LB.