Acorns School, Stockport

Special
Other independent special school
Mixed
Ages 517

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Ms Paula Tankard
Pupils:33 / 56 capacity
LA:Stockport
Phone:01614495820
Address:19b Hibbert Lane, Marple, Stockport, SK6 7NN
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:5 June 1998

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 5 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Needs Attention
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Needs Attention
Inspected 21 April 2026View full report
URN:131551
UKPRN:10014871
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Hazel Grove
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Acorns School excels at creating a welcoming, safe environment where pupils with complex needs can thrive and re-engage with learning. The school's reading programme is particularly strong, helping pupils catch up quickly and achieve well in exams. Staff are skilled at supporting pupils' emotional and behavioural needs through sensitive, individualised approaches.

Key Strengths

  • Strong focus on reading with effective support for pupils at early stages - many achieve success in GCSEs
  • Warm, safe environment where pupils settle well and feel welcomed by staff
  • Good behaviour support - staff help pupils recognise feelings and manage emotions appropriately
  • Rich programme of enrichment activities including woodland learning, swimming, golf and bike riding
  • Well-maintained facilities across both sites with good outdoor spaces

Areas for Improvement

  • Teaching quality is inconsistent across subjects - some staff lack subject knowledge and expertise
  • Assessment information is not used effectively in all subjects to track pupil progress and identify improvements
  • Curriculum is not delivered consistently well, creating variable learning experiences for pupils
  • School has not clearly measured the impact of curriculum changes on actual pupil learning

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Extracurricular Activities

Woodland learning, swimming, golf, bike riding, careers and work experience guidance

Acorns School is a special school for pupils aged 5-17 with social, emotional and mental health needs. The school requires improvement overall due to inconsistent teaching quality across subjects, though behaviour, attitudes and personal development are good.

At a Glance

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

0.0

Avg class size

0

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Rose Hill Marple Rail Station (Railway Road)
798m · 13 min walk

Bus Stops

Brindley Avenue (nr)
26m · 0 min walk
Priory House (o/s)
195m · 3 min walk
Cotefield Close (opp)
243m · 4 min walk
Conservative Club (o/s)
303m · 5 min walk
Union Road (opp)
317m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

59%

Available places

33 pupils

56 capacity

23 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Stockport

Low pressure
New homes approved:2,446
Projected new pupils:440

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Stockport

Admissions Demand - Stockport

Low demand1.03x oversubscription

Places available

3,392

Applications

3,486

Got 1st preference

76.2%

Got preferred school

94.2%

Secondary admissions across Stockport (2025/26)

Inspection History(10)

21 April 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
4 November 2025
29 April 2025

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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