Leith Hill School

Leith Hill School is a newly registered independent school for pupils aged 7 to 16 with autism, many with co-occurring social and mental wellbeing needs. This first standard inspection found a deeply caring, highly inclusive school where pupils—many of whom had extended past absence—are now attending well, behaving excellently and feeling safe and happy. Safeguarding standards are met and all independent school standards are met. Inspectors rated attendance and behaviour, inclusion, and personal development and wellbeing as strong, with particularly impressive work to improve attendance, support pupils with SEND, and provide highly effective pastoral care. Achievement, curriculum and teaching, and leadership and governance are meeting expected standards. Pupils achieve well overall, especially in reading and mathematics, and benefit from an ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum and effective oversight by leaders and proprietors. The main area for development is writing: teaching and modelling of writing are inconsistent, leaving some pupils with gaps in written work. Inspectors also noted that activities could occasionally be designed more precisely to reduce dependence on adults. Overall, leaders, governors and proprietors know the school well and are using accurate monitoring to drive improvement. Parents are overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the school as life-changing. The next step is to strengthen writing so that pupils’ written foundations match their success in reading and mathematics.

Strengths

• Attendance support reverses histories of non-attendance and severe absence
• Behaviour is excellent, supported by warm relationships, clear routines and effective pastoral strategies
• Pupils feel very safe and happy in a highly inclusive and caring school
• Pupils with SEND thrive through highly developed identification and tailored provision
• Therapeutic, occupational, medical and speech therapy are well integrated with learning
• Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND make impressive academic and emotional progress
• Personal development and wellbeing provision is highly effective and carefully tailored
• Pupils develop strong understanding of relationships, consent, online safety and protected characteristics
• Pastoral support helps pupils feel safe, valued and understood
• Careers education and enrichment broaden aspirations and build independence
• Reading and mathematics are particular strengths
• The curriculum is ambitious, clearly sequenced and supported by effective staff training
• Leaders, governors and proprietors provide effective oversight, support and challenge
• Staff wellbeing and professional development are well supported
• Parents are very positive and describe the school as life-changing
• Safeguarding standards are met and all independent school standards are met

Areas for Improvement

• Teaching and modelling of writing are inconsistent, leaving gaps in some pupils' written work
• Some activities could be designed with more precision to reduce dependence on adults
• Leaders should strengthen the teaching of writing so all pupils acquire secure foundations matching their success in reading and mathematics

In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at Leith Hill 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.

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• Secondary Schools

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What is Leith Hill School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Leith Hill School is Expected standard, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was Leith Hill School last inspected by Ofsted?

Leith Hill School was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does Leith Hill School have?

Leith Hill School has 33 pupils on roll.

What age range does Leith Hill School cover?

Leith Hill School for pupils aged 7 to 16.

Where is Leith Hill School?

Leith Hill School is at Pasture Wood Road, Holmbury St Mary, Surrey, RH5 6LQ.