Rodenhurst School

Rodenhurst School is a small independent special school for pupils aged 6 to 16 who have education, health and care plans and social, emotional and mental health difficulties, trauma, anxiety, autism and associated conditions. This was a progress monitoring inspection following earlier findings that the school did not meet all independent school standards. Inspectors found that the school remains non-compliant overall: although new leaders have made meaningful improvements since the last inspection, most of the standards that were unmet then are still unmet, and the leadership and management standard is not met.

Strengths

• New headteacher and associate director of education have an appropriate understanding of education in this school’s context.
• The proprietor and new leaders have developed a strategic plan directly addressing weaknesses from the last inspection.
• A curriculum policy is in place and reflects the needs of pupils who attend the school.
• Schemes of work plan the social, emotional and relational curriculum in detail.
• Leaders have reviewed reading teaching and secured appropriate resources.
• An appropriate assessment framework has been designed to track pupils’ social, emotional and relational progress.
• Risk assessment policy and school-specific risk assessments cover the site, building and activities.
• An appropriate accessibility plan addresses access to premises, curriculum and information.
• Safeguarding now has clearer oversight of active cases and an additional trained designated safeguarding leader.
• The school has welcomed local authority support to strengthen safeguarding procedures.
• The single central record and safeguarding policy availability requirements are met.

Areas for Improvement

• The school does not meet all independent school standards checked at this inspection.
• Part 8 leadership and management standard remains unmet.
• Most standards found unmet at the previous inspection remain unmet.
• Curriculum provision remains non-compliant: schemes of work do not identify academic knowledge and when pupils should learn it.
• Teaching remains non-compliant and does not enable pupils to make good progress.
• Lessons are not as well planned as they need to be.
• Assessment remains non-compliant because teachers cannot fully use the framework to plan teaching; schemes of work lack detail.
• The school is not yet using adopted classroom resources, including reading resources, because staff have not been trained.
• Safeguarding remains non-compliant: records do not consistently follow relevant guidance.
• Some safeguarding records lack detail needed for senior leaders to supervise cases.
• Safeguarding arrangements have not been in place long enough to demonstrate impact.
• The Department for Education rejected the school’s statutory action plan following the January 2026 additional inspection.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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What is Rodenhurst School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Rodenhurst School is Good, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Rodenhurst School last inspected by Ofsted?

Rodenhurst School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Rodenhurst School have?

Rodenhurst School has 12 pupils on roll.

What age range does Rodenhurst School cover?

Rodenhurst School for pupils aged 6 to 16.

Where is Rodenhurst School?

Rodenhurst School is at Rodenhurst Business Park, Rodenhurst Lane, Rodington, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 4QU.