Pitcheroak School

Pitcheroak School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 with profound, severe and moderate learning difficulties, including complex needs and physical disabilities. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. This was the first inspection since the school joined the Central Learning Partnership Trust in November 2022, and new senior leaders have been appointed since the previous inspection. Safeguarding standards are met, and inspectors found a warm, inclusive school built on strong relationships. Overall, the school is performing well. Personal development and wellbeing are strong, with a well-sequenced programme that builds confidence, independence and responsibility. Pupils make steady progress, attendance is high, behaviour is calm and respectful, and inclusion is thoughtful and effective. Early years and post-16 provision are also tailored well to pupils' needs, and leadership and governance provide clear direction and appropriate oversight. The main areas for development are consistency. The school's communication systems are not used equally confidently by all staff, and some staff do not always spot pupils' misunderstandings or small improvements quickly enough to adapt teaching. Leaders also recognise that training and support do not yet lead to the curriculum being delivered consistently well in every class. Leaders have plans in place to strengthen professional learning and practice across the school.

Strengths

• Strong personal development and wellbeing programme that builds confidence, independence and responsibility.
• High attendance and a calm, respectful environment where pupils behave well and feel safe.
• Thoughtful inclusion and SEND support that removes barriers and involves all pupils in enrichment.
• Well-structured early years provision that develops communication, early reading and number.
• Tailored post-16 curriculum that builds independence, life skills and preparation for adulthood.
• Effective leadership and governance with clear vision, supportive culture and appropriate oversight.
• Bespoke curriculum pathways matched to pupils' needs, with secure foundations in reading and communication.
• Good pastoral care and strong partnerships with families and external professionals.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent use of the school's communication systems across some classes.
• Staff do not always spot pupils' misunderstandings or small improvements quickly enough to adapt teaching.
• Training and support do not yet lead to consistently strong curriculum delivery.
• Some staff lack confidence in using communication systems, creating minor differences in pupil experience.
• Recent improvements are still embedding, and curriculum delivery is not yet consistent in every class.

In 2024–25 pupils at Pitcheroak School attended 90.9% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 22.2% 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, 2.6% of pupils at Pitcheroak 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 Pitcheroak School had 7.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.1% 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 Pitcheroak School had 159 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; 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; 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 Pitcheroak School received £26,655 and spent £23,686 for each of its 156 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,250,000 (£8,012 per pupil).

Across all 15 schools of Central Learning Partnership Trust, income was £11,097 and spending £11,085 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 Redditch · Worcestershire local authority: places and applications

Pitcheroak School is part of Central Learning Partnership Trust, which runs 15 schools. The nearest others:

• Kingfisher School Redditch
• Riversides School Worcester
• Vale of Evesham School Evesham
• Wolverhampton Vocational Training Centre Wolverhampton
• Moseley Park Bilston
• Woden Primary School Wolverhampton
• Broadmeadow Special School Wolverhampton
• Heath Park Wolverhampton
• Coppice Performing Arts School Wolverhampton
• D'Eyncourt Primary School Wolverhampton

What is Pitcheroak School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Pitcheroak School is Expected standard, from an inspection in March 2026.

When was Pitcheroak School last inspected by Ofsted?

Pitcheroak School was last inspected in March 2026.

How many pupils does Pitcheroak School have?

Pitcheroak School has 159 pupils on roll.

What age range does Pitcheroak School cover?

Pitcheroak School for pupils aged 4 to 19.

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

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

Where is Pitcheroak School?

Pitcheroak School is at Willow Way, Batchley, Redditch, Worcestershire, B97 6PQ.