Battledown School

Battledown Centre for Children and Families has been recognized for providing a good overall quality of education since its first inspection. With a strong focus on the individual needs of each pupil, the school excels in creating a safe and nurturing environment where children feel happy and supported. The good behaviour and positive attitudes exhibited by pupils highlight the effectiveness of the school's high expectations in both academic and personal development. Although there are strong aspects of the curriculum, some pupils face challenges due to a lack of stretching academic opportunities which the school is already working to address.

Strengths

• Strong relationships between staff and pupils.
• Effective pastoral support for pupils and families.
• Ambitious aims for high-quality education tailored to each pupil's needs.
• Rich opportunities for personal development through various activities.
• Good planning for reading and mathematics that promotes retention of key knowledge.

Areas for Improvement

• Underdeveloped relationships and sex education (RSE) curriculum.
• Insufficient opportunities for pupils capable of a more academic curriculum.

In 2024–25 pupils at Battledown School attended 92.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 24.6% 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 Battledown 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 Battledown School had 5.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 28.4% 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 Battledown School had 64 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

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 Battledown School received £30,523 and spent £35,253 for each of its 70 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £56,000 (£798 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of Sand Academies Trust, income was £17,654 and spending £18,975 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 Cheltenham · Gloucestershire local authority: places and applications

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

• Belmont School Cheltenham
• The Milestone School Gloucester
• Tredworth Infant and Nursery Academy Gloucester
• Calton Primary School Gloucester
• Willow Primary Academy Gloucester
• Sladewood Academy Stroud
• Paternoster School Cirencester

What is Battledown School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Battledown School is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was Battledown School last inspected by Ofsted?

Battledown School was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does Battledown School have?

Battledown School has 64 pupils on roll.

What age range does Battledown School cover?

Battledown School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Battledown School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Battledown School?

Battledown School is at Harp Hill, Battledown, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 6PZ.