Horizons Independent School

Horizons Independent School is a small independent school for pupils with education, health and care plans, many of whom have social, emotional and mental health needs, autism and associated needs. This was its first standard inspection after opening in September 2025. Safeguarding standards are met and inclusion is judged at the expected standard. Staff know pupils' individual needs well and provide bespoke support that helps pupils build trust, regulate their emotions, improve their behaviour and attitudes to learning, and begin to attend more regularly. Pupils feel safe and accepted, and their communication skills develop well. However, most other areas need attention. Achievement is limited because most pupils do not yet follow an academic curriculum, and the curriculum, teaching and assessment of knowledge gaps are at early stages. Personal development, including PSHE and careers education, is not yet securely implemented. Leaders' attendance analysis is too early to identify patterns and trends. The independent school standards are not met in the quality of education provided and in the quality of leadership and management, and the proprietor has not ensured that all standards are met consistently. Leaders have ambitious plans and have rightly prioritised pupils' emotional readiness, behaviour and reintegration into education. Staff are well trained and supported, and external agencies and experts are used effectively. The next steps focus on securing the independent school standards, identifying key knowledge across subjects, giving pupils access to the academic curriculum once they are emotionally ready, supporting more pupils to gain recognised qualifications, improving attendance analysis, and strengthening the personal development offer.

Strengths

• Staff understand pupils' significant and multiple barriers to learning and their individual needs well.
• Bespoke support helps pupils build trust in adults, regulate their emotions and improve their attitudes to learning.
• Pupils' behaviour and attitudes to learning improve significantly over time.
• Most pupils break the habit of non-attendance and develop better attendance routines.
• Pupils feel safe, accepted and do not worry about bullying.
• Pupils' communication skills develop strongly, helping them express themselves and give feedback.
• Well-considered pastoral support builds pupils' independence, resilience and trust.
• Leaders provide a wealth of carefully considered staff training.
• Leaders work well with external agencies and experts to craft suitable offers for pupils.
• Careers guidance is beginning to help pupils develop realistic aspirations for their future.

Areas for Improvement

• Independent school standards are not met in the quality of education provided.
• Independent school standards are not met in the quality of leadership and management.
• The proprietor has not ensured that all independent school standards are met consistently.
• Most pupils do not follow an academic curriculum.
• Pupils' academic achievement is limited.
• Curriculum and teaching are at early stages of development.
• The most important knowledge is not clearly identified in subjects across the curriculum.
• Pupils who are emotionally ready do not yet have the opportunity to learn the academic curriculum.
• Too few pupils work towards gaining recognised qualifications.
• Attendance information does not yet enable leaders to suitably identify patterns and trends.
• The personal development offer, including PSHE, is underdeveloped.
• Pupils' knowledge about the world around them is not secure.
• Some parts of the personal development programme are at the early stages of implementation.

In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at Horizons Independent School were on SEN support (nationally 18.4%) and 95.8% 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.

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• Secondary Schools

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What is Horizons Independent School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Horizons Independent School is Needs attention, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was Horizons Independent School last inspected by Ofsted?

Horizons Independent School was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does Horizons Independent School have?

Horizons Independent School has 24 pupils on roll.

What age range does Horizons Independent School cover?

Horizons Independent School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

Where is Horizons Independent School?

Horizons Independent School is at 60 Mendip Road, Birkenhead, Cheshire, CH42 8NU.