Brimble Hill Special School

Brimble Hill Special School has been inspected for the first time since becoming an academy and is performing well across all areas, earning a good overall effectiveness rating. The school prides itself on a supportive environment where pupils feel safe and are encouraged to communicate in various ways. The curriculum is well-structured, focusing on both academic learning and personal development, enabling students to become more independent. Parents are seen as vital partners in their children's education, and staff are well-supported in their roles.

Strengths

• Strong relationships and support for pupils
• Well-planned curriculum promoting independence
• Effective phonics program for early reading
• Positive changes in pupils' behavior management
• Improving attendance through strong strategies
• Staff feel well supported and part of a team

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils struggle to recall prior knowledge

In 2024–25 pupils at Brimble Hill Special School attended 88.1% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 39.8% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Brimble Hill Special 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 Brimble Hill Special School had 7.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 33.5% 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 Brimble Hill Special School had 124 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; 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 2024–25 Brimble Hill Special School received £39,121 and spent £37,868 for each of its 122 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £342,000 (£2,802 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of Brunel Academies Trust, income was £24,929 and spending £25,575 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 Swindon · Swindon local authority: places and applications

Brimble Hill Special School is part of Brunel Academies Trust, which runs 8 schools. The nearest others:

• Uplands School Swindon
• Churchward School Swindon
• Westlea Primary School Swindon
• The Chalet School Swindon
• Wyndham Park Infants' School Salisbury
• Exeter House Special School Salisbury
• St Mark's CofE Junior School, Salisbury Salisbury

What is Brimble Hill Special School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Brimble Hill Special School is Good, from an inspection in January 2024.

When was Brimble Hill Special School last inspected by Ofsted?

Brimble Hill Special School was last inspected in January 2024.

How many pupils does Brimble Hill Special School have?

Brimble Hill Special School has 124 pupils on roll.

What age range does Brimble Hill Special School cover?

Brimble Hill Special School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

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

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

Where is Brimble Hill Special School?

Brimble Hill Special School is at Tadpole Lane, Redhouse, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN25 2NB.