Serenity School Crawley

Serenity School Crawley is performing well overall. It is a special school for pupils with autism and social, emotional and mental health needs, and all 210 pupils have an education, health and care plan; many have missed significant periods of education before joining. Safeguarding standards are met and all independent school standards are met. Leaders have managed a period of growth and staffing change effectively, and pupils benefit from a calm, welcoming and purposeful school culture. Attendance and behaviour, inclusion, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing are particular strengths. Attendance is high compared with other special schools and persistent absence has reduced. Staff know pupils well, support them to regulate their behaviour and help them grow in confidence and independence. The curriculum is ambitious, careers advice is objective, and older pupils achieve a range of accredited qualifications; all Year 11 and Year 13 leavers continued in education. The main concerns are inconsistencies in teaching across classes, including in reading and phonics. The revised phonics programme is still being embedded and is not yet taught consistently well, and teaching across the wider curriculum varies, so pupils do not achieve as consistently highly as they could. Leaders have identified these priorities and are taking action.

Strengths

• High attendance compared with other special schools, with persistent absence reduced
• Calm, kind and consistent behaviour support that helps pupils regulate
• Strong inclusion with thorough induction, assessment and individual support
• High-quality training and continuous assessment of pupil progress
• Effective leadership through a period of growth and staffing change
• Strong personal development programme, including life skills and healthy lifestyles
• Good preparation for future life through careers advice and accredited qualifications
• Open and positive safeguarding culture, with safeguarding standards met
• All independent school standards met
• Pupils feel safe, valued and confident, and behave well

Areas for Improvement

• Teaching quality is inconsistent across classes, including in reading
• The revised phonics programme is not yet fully embedded or consistently taught
• Variation in curriculum delivery means pupils do not achieve as consistently highly as they could

In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at Serenity School Crawley were on SEN support (nationally 18.4%) and 100.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 7.9%).

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 independent school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Crawley · West Sussex local authority: places and applications

What is Serenity School Crawley's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Serenity School Crawley is Expected standard, from an inspection in October 2026.

When was Serenity School Crawley last inspected by Ofsted?

Serenity School Crawley was last inspected in October 2026.

How many pupils does Serenity School Crawley have?

Serenity School Crawley has 205 pupils on roll.

What age range does Serenity School Crawley cover?

Serenity School Crawley for pupils aged 5 to 18.

Where is Serenity School Crawley?

Serenity School Crawley is at Atlantic House, Hazelwick Avenue, Three Bridges, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1QQ.