Uplands School

Uplands School currently requires improvement in its overall effectiveness, particularly in the quality of education and leadership and management. While the school has notable strengths in personal development and behaviour, which are rated as good, the implementation of its new curriculum is inconsistent, leading to variations in the educational experience of pupils, especially in Years 7 to 11. The school is part of the Brunel Academies Trust, and it is noteworthy that this is the school's first graded inspection as an academy, following a significant gap since its last inspection. This context contributes to the challenges in fully realizing the potential of the student body, who have severe, profound, and multiple learning difficulties or autism spectrum conditions.

Strengths

• Strong focus on pupils' mental and physical health needs
• Pupils are well-supported in the sixth form
• Wide range of real-life learning experiences
• Pupils demonstrate good behaviour in class
• Strong personal, social and health education curriculum

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent quality of education across subjects
• Staff changes have hindered curriculum implementation
• Lack of secure knowledge about the curriculum among staff
• Pupils struggle to connect curriculum concepts

In 2024–25 pupils at Uplands School attended 89.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 28.9% 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 Uplands 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 Uplands School had 7.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.8% 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 Uplands School had 172 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 Uplands School received £32,301 and spent £33,006 for each of its 170 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £150,000 (£882 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

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

• Brimble Hill Special 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 Uplands School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Uplands School is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in September 2024.

When was Uplands School last inspected by Ofsted?

Uplands School was last inspected in September 2024.

How many pupils does Uplands School have?

Uplands School has 172 pupils on roll.

What age range does Uplands School cover?

Uplands School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Uplands School?

Uplands School is at The Learning Campus, Tadpole Lane, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN25 2NB.