Mabel Prichard School

Mabel Prichard is a special academy for pupils with severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties and autism, many of whom have complex medical needs. It is part of The Gallery Trust and was inspected in February 2025, shortly after a new headteacher was appointed. The school was judged good in quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, early years and sixth form, with personal development outstanding. Safeguarding is effective. Pupils benefit from precise, expert support and warm, trusting relationships. The curriculum is ambitious and based on inclusive frameworks, communication and reading are strong, and pupils are well prepared for adulthood through life-skills and work-related experiences. Staff know pupils’ needs well and support regulation and transitions skilfully. The main area for improvement is that curriculum sequencing is not yet fully finished in a small number of non-core subjects. In these areas, staff are less clear about what to teach and in what order, so pupils do not learn as well across the whole curriculum as they could. Otherwise, leaders have built a motivated, well-skilled staff team and the trust provides effective support.

Strengths

• Precise and expert support helps pupils with complex needs flourish
• Warm and trusting relationships between pupils and staff
• High ambitions are personalised to pupils’ individual needs
• A well-sequenced communication curriculum develops confident, independent communicators
• Pupils access enriching experiences, including effective work placements
• Inclusive frameworks provide an ambitious curriculum across early years, main school and sixth form
• Expert phonics teaching helps all pupils learn to read well
• Staff provide specialist medical care and follow support plans consistently
• Early years routines and transition strategies are used well across the school
• The sensory and physical learning environment helps pupils stay regulated and ready to learn
• Personal development provision is exemplary and prepares pupils well for adulthood
• Leaders have built a motivated, well-skilled staff team and the trust supports high-quality provision
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum sequencing is not fully completed in a small number of non-core subjects
• In those subjects, staff are less clear about content and order, so pupils do not learn as well as they could

In 2024–25 pupils at Mabel Prichard School attended 86.9% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 40.9% 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 Mabel Prichard 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 Mabel Prichard School had 7.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.7% 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 Mabel Prichard School had 116 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.

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 Mabel Prichard School received £31,397 and spent £30,078 for each of its 116 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £485,000 (£4,178 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of The Gallery Trust, income was £32,565 and spending £30,704 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 Oxford · Oxfordshire local authority: places and applications

Mabel Prichard School is part of The Gallery Trust, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Orion Academy Oxford
• The Iffley Academy Oxford
• Northern House Academy Oxford
• Springfield School Witney
• Bardwell School Bicester
• Bloxham Grove Academy Banbury

What is Mabel Prichard School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Mabel Prichard School is Good, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Mabel Prichard School last inspected by Ofsted?

Mabel Prichard School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Mabel Prichard School have?

Mabel Prichard School has 116 pupils on roll.

What age range does Mabel Prichard School cover?

Mabel Prichard School for pupils aged 2 to 19.

What are Mabel Prichard School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Mabel Prichard School?

Mabel Prichard School is at Cuddesdon Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 6SB.