Coombswood Special School

Coombswood Special School is a newly established independent special school where all pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities, typically autism and/or social, emotional and mental health needs, and all have education, health and care plans. Pupils often arrive after disrupted education and significant gaps in learning. The school has created a welcoming, friendly and highly supportive community in which pupils feel safe, valued and accepted, and where attendance and behaviour improve considerably once they join. Safeguarding standards are met, and the school meets all independent school standards. Inspectors judged inclusion and personal development and wellbeing to be of strong standard, reflecting the school's informed understanding of pupils' needs, effective communication with families and external professionals, and a deliberate personal, social, health and education programme that prepares pupils well for life beyond school. Careers guidance is aspirational, and practical activities, trips and clubs build independence, empathy and self-worth. Achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, and leadership and governance were judged at the expected standard. Pupils make suitable progress and are well prepared for their next steps, but the school is still new, so very few pupils have completed key stage 4. Leaders have designed a curriculum that accommodates varied starting points, with a strong focus on reading, writing, mathematics and functional skills, alongside GCSE and vocational options. Teaching is generally effective, with secure subject knowledge and clear expectations, although in a few instances staff find it difficult to regain pupils' attention if they lose interest, and some pupils struggle to sustain concentration as the day progresses. Leaders are highly visible, supportive and optimistic, and have gained the trust and confidence of staff, pupils, parents and carers. The proprietor brings an evidence-informed and analytical approach to compliance and quality assurance. The report identifies two next steps: continuing to strengthen teaching so that all staff bring an appropriate level of challenge and support to maximise engagement, and making sharper use of the high-quality information gathered about the school's performance to focus improvement planning. Overall, this is a well-led school that is effectively fulfilling the expected standard of education and care and providing strong provision for inclusion and personal development.

Strengths

• Very welcoming, friendly and inclusive environment where pupils accept one another and feel valued
• Staff have an informed understanding of pupils' special educational needs and/or disabilities
• Regular and effective communication with parents and carers
• Strong partnership working with external professionals such as social workers and the local authority
• Systematic approach to checking pupils' progress, behaviour and engagement
• Targeted work leads to dramatic improvements in attendance and learning to read
• Personal development is woven throughout school life with a well-planned PSHE programme
• Comprehensive coverage of fundamental British values and safe, healthy relationships
• Effective management of social times with rare conflict and constructive resolution
• Trips and clubs make a marked contribution to wider learning and cultural understanding
• High priority given to independent living skills, such as shopping, banking and travel planning
• Informed careers guidance supported by links with local colleges and employers
• Pupils take on responsibilities such as wellbeing champions or shadowing the site manager
• Most pupils achieve high attendance with rarely unnecessary absence
• Pupils behave well due to clear expectations and established routines
• Warm and supportive relationships across the school community
• Disruptive behaviour is uncommon and dealt with promptly and calmly
• Bullying and unkind behaviour, offline and online, are not accepted
• Curriculum accommodates pupils' varied starting points with a focus on basic knowledge
• Structured phonics programme supports reading development
• Broad and inclusive curriculum includes practical subjects such as food technology, PE, art and science
• Staff have secure subject knowledge and adapt approaches to keep pupils motivated
• Lessons in life and employability skills are supported by trips, volunteering and external input
• Highly visible, supportive and optimistic leaders have gained the trust and confidence of staff, pupils, parents and carers
• Staff feel well supported with training, welfare and workload
• Parents praise the school for kindness, compassion and clear communication
• Leaders keep pupils' best interests at the heart of plans and decision-making
• Proprietor brings an evidence-informed and analytical approach to compliance and quality
• Reliable routines for external scrutiny ensure independent school standards continue to be met
• Safeguarding standards are met
• All independent school standards are met

Areas for Improvement

• In a few instances, staff find it difficult to regain pupils' attention if they lose interest in the learning
• Some pupils find it hard to sustain concentration as the day progresses
• Leaders could make even better use of the information they gather to set sharper development points
• Teaching could be further strengthened so that all staff bring an appropriate level of challenge and support to maximise pupils' engagement

In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at Coombswood Special School 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 Halesowen · Dudley local authority: places and applications

What is Coombswood Special School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Coombswood Special School is Expected standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Coombswood Special School last inspected by Ofsted?

Coombswood Special School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Coombswood Special School have?

Coombswood Special School has 33 pupils on roll.

What age range does Coombswood Special School cover?

Coombswood Special School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

Where is Coombswood Special School?

Coombswood Special School is at Laborem Place, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8BH.