Belong School Gloucestershire

Belong School Gloucestershire is an independent special school for pupils with EHC plans, predominantly autism and social, emotional and mental health needs. Inspection findings are positive overall, with safeguarding met and all independent school standards met. The school is particularly strong in attendance, behaviour and inclusion: many pupils arrive with poor attendance histories and make rapid improvements because staff build purposeful relationships with pupils and families, identify barriers forensically and adapt support effectively. Pupils feel safe, behave well, and benefit from highly tailored pastoral care and SEND-informed provision. The quality of education is solid but less consistent. Pupils generally achieve well, gain foundational reading and number skills, and are prepared for post-16 options. However, in a few subjects the curriculum is still being refined, assessment is not securely embedded in all subjects, and teaching sometimes does not close knowledge gaps as well as it could. Personal development is broad and purposeful, including careers, RSE, British values and enrichment, though leaders do not yet use participation tracking robustly enough to extend opportunities for all. Leadership and governance are effective: leaders know the school well, prioritise appropriate improvements, and the proprietor ensures statutory duties and independent school standards are met. Overall, this is a school with strong inclusive practice and care, with clear next steps to make curriculum, assessment and personal-development tracking consistently high.

Strengths

• Rapid improvements in attendance for pupils who previously attended poorly
• Forensic analysis of attendance patterns and effective strategies to reduce barriers
• Caring culture with high expectations for learning, participation and interactions
• Pupils feel safe and have positive relationships with staff and each other
• Unkindness and bullying are rare and dealt with swiftly and effectively
• Systematic identification and assessment of pupils' needs, including disadvantaged pupils
• Strong partnership working with families and the local SEND partnership
• Highly effective pastoral support that reduces barriers to learning and wellbeing
• Rigorous monitoring of pastoral interventions and skilful adjustments to support
• Tailored support for pupils known to children's social care, including children in care
• Pupils generally achieve well in basic skills such as reading and number
• Effective curriculum to remedy gaps in phonics and foundational mathematics
• Pupils develop wider knowledge and skills, including cooking and healthy lifestyles
• Pupils are generally well prepared for post-16 education, employment or training
• Leaders and the proprietor have an accurate understanding of strengths and next steps
• The proprietor fulfils governance effectively and ensures ISS compliance
• Leaders build staff expertise, support wellbeing and manage workload sensibly
• Constructive engagement with parents and wider professionals benefits pupils
• Appropriate personal development programme covering British values, RSE and safety
• Helpful careers education and strong liaison with post-16 providers
• Pupils benefit from sports, computing, crafts, trips and cultural experiences

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum is not consistently high quality across all subjects
• In a few subjects, leaders are still identifying the most important knowledge and skills
• In those subjects, staff are not as clear about how to deepen pupils' understanding over time
• Assessment checks are not strongly embedded in all subjects
• Teaching sometimes does not support pupils well enough to close gaps in knowledge
• Pupils sometimes do not achieve as well as they could where curriculum and teaching are less effective
• Tracking of pupils' personal development experiences is not robust enough to extend opportunities for all
• Leaders need continued improvement to sustain exceptional attendance and behaviour

In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at Belong School Gloucestershire were on SEN support (nationally 18.4%) and 100.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 7.9%).

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 independent school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Stroud · Gloucestershire local authority: places and applications

What is Belong School Gloucestershire's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Belong School Gloucestershire last inspected by Ofsted?

Belong School Gloucestershire was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does Belong School Gloucestershire have?

Belong School Gloucestershire has 45 pupils on roll.

What age range does Belong School Gloucestershire cover?

Belong School Gloucestershire for pupils aged 9 to 17.

What are Belong School Gloucestershire's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 11.0, and 10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Belong School Gloucestershire?

Belong School Gloucestershire is at Wild Goose Lodge, Shepherds Patch, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, GL2 7BP.