Chaffinch Brook School

Chaffinch Brook School has demonstrated good overall effectiveness in its first inspection, particularly excelling in the areas of behaviour and attitudes and personal development, where it received outstanding ratings. The school caters to pupils with autism, ensuring their unique needs are met with a curriculum designed to build knowledge sequentially and support personal growth. Staff wellbeing is prioritized, contributing to a positive learning environment where pupils feel safe and valued. However, some aspects of the curriculum's implementation could be improved to deepen pupils' knowledge and skills over time, a weakness that the school is already addressing through strategic plans for professional development.

Strengths

• Pupils exhibit exceptionally positive behaviour and attitudes.
• The curriculum is ambitious and clearly structured.
• Teachers utilize imaginative and engaging methods to teach.
• Strong relationships between staff and pupils foster a conducive learning environment.
• Personal development opportunities are extensive and help build resilience and self-worth.
• There is a focus on reading with an emphasis on high-quality literature.

Areas for Improvement

• Implementation of the curriculum is not fully secure in some areas.

In 2024–25 pupils at Chaffinch Brook School attended 89.5% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 33.7% 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, 15.1% of pupils at Chaffinch Brook School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). One pupil was 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 Chaffinch Brook School had 5.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 22.7% 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 Chaffinch Brook School had 98 pupils, 99.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder.

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 Chaffinch Brook School received £37,954 and spent £40,845 for each of its 93 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £393,000 (-£4,229 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of The Beckmead Trust, income was £37,475 and spending £41,377 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 Croydon · Croydon local authority: places and applications

Chaffinch Brook School is part of The Beckmead Trust, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• Beckmead College London
• Beckmead Park Academy Beckenham
• Ian Mikardo High School London
• Wells Park School Chigwell
• The Greenwell Academy Harlow
• The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy Chelmsford
• The Ropemakers' Academy Hailsham
• The Flagship School Hastings

What is Chaffinch Brook School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Chaffinch Brook School is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Chaffinch Brook School last inspected by Ofsted?

Chaffinch Brook School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Chaffinch Brook School have?

Chaffinch Brook School has 98 pupils on roll.

What age range does Chaffinch Brook School cover?

Chaffinch Brook School for pupils aged 5 to 16.

What are Chaffinch Brook School's GCSE results?

In 2025 its average Attainment 8 score was 21.5, and 13% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

What are Chaffinch Brook School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 25% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Chaffinch Brook School?

Chaffinch Brook School is at 32 Morland Road, Croydon, CR0 6NA.