Serenity School

Serenity School is a small independent special school for 90 pupils aged 11 to 19, all of whom have an education, health and care plan and a range of complex special educational needs and/or disabilities. Inspectors found a highly caring, inclusive and harmonious community where pupils feel safe and valued, attendance is high, behaviour is excellent, and many pupils who had previously struggled in other settings re-engage successfully with learning. Safeguarding standards are met, and all independent school standards are met. The strongest work is in attendance and behaviour, inclusion, leadership and governance, personal development and wellbeing, and post-16 provision. Leaders quickly build a detailed picture of each pupil’s needs, use bespoke therapeutic and multidisciplinary support, work closely with families and external professionals, and have managed recent leadership and staffing changes decisively. Pupils benefit from a well-planned personal development programme, clubs, trips and useful careers advice, while post-16 students achieve highly and are well prepared for college, apprenticeships or work. The main areas for further development are achievement and curriculum and teaching. Most pupils leave well prepared for their next steps, but a small number do not secure key knowledge well enough across subjects, and teachers do not always check that pupils have embedded important knowledge before moving on. Leaders should ensure ongoing checks consistently address gaps so that all pupils make secure progress across the curriculum.

Strengths

• Pupils take immense pride in a harmonious and inclusive school community.
• Attendance and punctuality are high, with barriers to attendance addressed efficiently.
• Pupils’ conduct is excellent, and social times are calm, safe and purposeful.
• Pupils feel safe and supported, and bullying or discrimination is dealt with quickly.
• Highly efficient systems identify each pupil’s SEND and EHC plan needs from the point of joining.
• Bespoke therapeutic interventions and multidisciplinary working help pupils overcome barriers to learning.
• Parents and carers are actively engaged, and vulnerable pupils receive highly effective support.
• Leaders responded decisively to recent leadership and staffing changes and set precise improvement priorities.
• Staff receive high-quality training, and leaders consider staff workload carefully.
• Governance and the proprietor ensure statutory duties are met and the independent school standards are secure.
• A wide personal development programme builds pupils’ confidence, responsibility and understanding of healthy relationships and risks.
• Clubs, community visits and a residential trip develop pupils’ independence, teamwork and self-belief.
• Post-16 provision combines academic, vocational and life-skills learning effectively.
• Post-16 students achieve highly and are well prepared for adulthood, college, apprenticeships or work.

Areas for Improvement

• A small number of pupils do not secure key knowledge well enough across subjects, which limits their progress.
• Teachers do not always check that pupils have embedded important knowledge before moving on to new learning.
• Ongoing assessment should be used more consistently to close gaps in pupils’ knowledge across the curriculum.
• Achievement and curriculum and teaching are not yet as strong as the school’s other areas.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

• St Bede's School
• The Children's Trust School

What is Serenity School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Serenity School is Expected standard, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was Serenity School last inspected by Ofsted?

Serenity School was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does Serenity School have?

Serenity School has 90 pupils on roll.

What age range does Serenity School cover?

Serenity School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Serenity School?

Serenity School is at Rowan's Hill, Coulsdon Lane, Chipstead, Surrey, CR5 3QG.