Danecourt School

Danecourt School is demonstrating significant improvement since its previous inspection, showcasing a strong performance across all areas. The school has implemented effective strategies that cater to the complex needs of its pupils, resulting in impressive personal and academic achievements. Both students and staff enjoy a supportive and safe environment, which fosters high levels of engagement and learning. The leadership team, passionate and energetic, is committed to refining educational practices, thereby ensuring that the school continues to advance in its provision and outcomes.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe and enjoy learning in a friendly environment.
• High expectations for student achievement lead to impressive outcomes.
• Personalized education through integrated therapy provisions enhances student success.
• Strong leadership drives sustained improvement across all areas.
• Effective reading and mathematics curricula meet diverse student needs.
• Well-supported early years provision aids transition to secondary education.
• Positive personal, social, and emotional development is prioritized.
• Strong partnerships with other institutions enrich educational offerings.

In 2024–25 pupils at Danecourt School attended 91.9% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 21.5% 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, 0.4% of pupils at Danecourt 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 Danecourt School had 10.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.1% 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 Danecourt School had 291 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 2024–25 Danecourt School received £27,009 and spent £23,650 for each of its 257 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £446,000 (£1,735 per pupil).

Across all 11 schools of Maritime Academy Trust, income was £9,896 and spending £9,406 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 Gillingham · Medway local authority: places and applications

Danecourt School is part of Maritime Academy Trust, which runs 13 schools. The nearest others:

• Featherby Junior School Gillingham
• Featherby Infant and Nursery School Gillingham
• Barnsole Primary School Gillingham
• Bligh Primary School (Juniors) Rochester
• Bligh Primary School (Infants) Rochester
• Ebbsfleet Green Primary School Swanscombe
• Hook Lane Primary School Welling
• Timbercroft Primary School London
• Greenacres Primary School and Language Impairment Unit London
• Nightingale Primary School London

What is Danecourt School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Danecourt School is Good, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was Danecourt School last inspected by Ofsted?

Danecourt School was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does Danecourt School have?

Danecourt School has 291 pupils on roll.

What age range does Danecourt School cover?

Danecourt School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

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

Where is Danecourt School?

Danecourt School is at Hotel Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 6AA.