Aurora Hedgeway School, Pilning
Aurora Hedgeway School is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 19 in Pilning. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Aurora Hedgeway School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Aurora Hedgeway School are SGS Pegasus School (2.8 miles, Requires improvement); Castlefell School (3.3 miles, Good); North Star 82° (3.8 miles); and Two Bridges Academy (4.1 miles).
SGS Pegasus SchoolCastlefell SchoolNorth Star 82°Two Bridges Academy
What parents say
30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Aurora Hedgeway School (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Aurora Hedgeway School has an education, health and care plan (62 of 63 in 2026).
Aurora Hedgeway School is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Pilning Rail Station, about 740 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 6 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft, burglary and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in South Gloucestershire (116).
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Aurora Hedgeway excels at helping pupils who have had negative experiences of education to settle, thrive and build confidence. The school creates a calm, warm environment where pupils feel understood and valued for who they are. Staff are exceptionally well-trained and skilled at supporting each pupil's individual needs whilst maintaining high expectations for behaviour and achievement.
Key Strengths
- Behaviour and attitudes are outstanding - pupils are respectful, empathetic and highly engaged in school life
- Exceptional approach to wider development including physical health, mental health and character building
- All pupils' needs are met with precision, tailored to their individual education, health and care plans
- Strong focus on reading and revisiting learning to help pupils remember and build understanding
- Extensive work experience and careers guidance helps older pupils successfully progress to further education or employment
Areas for Improvement
- Sometimes staff explanations of new knowledge lack accuracy and precision, leading pupils to develop misunderstandings
- School needs to ensure all staff have sufficient subject knowledge to teach consistently well across the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong safeguarding culture that prioritizes pupils' interests.
Extracurricular Activities
Competitive sporting activities, school fairs, formal Year 11 celebration events, work experience, therapeutic support activities
Aurora Hedgeway School is a special school for pupils with autism spectrum disorder and other SEND, rated as Good overall. Pupils quickly settle and thrive in the warm, supportive environment where staff understand their individual needs.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
30 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Aurora Hedgeway School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in South Gloucestershire is 8 (the median across 127 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Full
63 pupils
63 places
No spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Pilning
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Pilning
Across South Gloucestershire council
Places available
3,139
Applications
3,164
Got 1st preference
89.4%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All secondary applications across South Gloucestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
62
EHC Plans
98.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Aurora Hedgeway School is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
63
Total Pupils
43
Boys
20
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Aurora Hedgeway School
Questions parents ask about Aurora Hedgeway School
What are GCSE results like at Aurora Hedgeway School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Aurora Hedgeway School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Aurora Hedgeway School's Ofsted rating?
Aurora Hedgeway School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025.
Does Aurora Hedgeway School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in June 2025, Aurora Hedgeway School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Aurora Hedgeway School?
Aurora Hedgeway School has around 63 pupils on roll.
Does Aurora Hedgeway School have specialist SEN provision?
Aurora Hedgeway School is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to Aurora Hedgeway School?
Aurora Hedgeway School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Aurora Hedgeway School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in South Gloucestershire is 8 (the median across 127 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Aurora Hedgeway School?
Aurora Hedgeway School is at Rookery Lane, Pilning, South Gloucestershire, BS35 4JN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)