Churchward School

Churchward School is performing well overall, achieving a good level of effectiveness since its opening as a free school in 2018. The school provides a calm and supportive environment where pupils with special educational needs and disabilities feel safe and are encouraged to learn independently. Leaders have designed a relevant and engaging curriculum that enables pupils to gain essential skills and qualifications while fostering personal development and a strong reading culture. Despite notable strengths in leadership, teaching, and support systems, the school recognizes areas for improvement, particularly regarding the reading fluency of some pupils who are at the early stages of learning. With a dedicated staff and a commitment to nurturing each pupil’s individual needs, Churchward School is well-positioned for ongoing development and success.

Strengths

• Strong leadership demonstrates unwavering ambition for pupils.
• Ambitious curriculum is engaging and relevant to pupils' needs.
• Effective support for pupils with communication challenges and sensory needs.
• High levels of respect and positive relationships between staff and pupils.
• Strong focus on reading across all subjects, fostering a positive reading culture.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils at the early stages of learning to read do not catch up as well as they could.
• Assessment systems for checking pupils' retention of knowledge over time are less developed.

In 2024–25 pupils at Churchward School attended 83.5% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 45.8% 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 Churchward 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 Churchward School had 6.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.8% 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 Churchward School had 139 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; 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 Churchward School received £48,222 and spent £49,097 for each of its 127 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £85,000 (£671 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

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

• Uplands School Swindon
• Brimble Hill Special 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 Churchward School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Churchward School is Good, from an inspection in March 2023.

When was Churchward School last inspected by Ofsted?

Churchward School was last inspected in March 2023.

How many pupils does Churchward School have?

Churchward School has 139 pupils on roll.

What age range does Churchward School cover?

Churchward School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Churchward School?

Churchward School is at William Morris Way, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN25 2PP.