Aurora Hedgeway School, Pilning

Special
Other independent special school
Mixed
Ages 719

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Miss Klaire Rowland
Pupils:63 / 63 capacity
LA:South Gloucestershire
Phone:01454632532
Address:Rookery Lane, Pilning, BS35 4JN
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:9 August 2012

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 1 year ago
-

Overall

Inspected 24 June 2025View full report
URN:138563
UKPRN:10067868
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Thornbury and Yate
Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

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

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

30 responses
Would recommend97%
Child is happy100%
Well taught93%
Good progress87%
Feels safe87%
Well behaved93%
Bullying dealt with27%
Kept informed97%
Handles concerns80%
Wider development93%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Class Sizes

0.0

Avg class size

0

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Pilning Rail Station (Entrance)
743m · 12 min walk

Bus Stops

Pilning School (SE-bound)
833m · 14 min walk
Station Road (N-bound)
1.0km · 16 min walk
Ellinghurst Farm (SE-bound)
1.2km · 20 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

100%

Over capacity

63 pupils

63 capacity

0 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Pilning

Low pressure
New homes approved:65
Projected new pupils:12

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Pilning

Admissions Demand - South Gloucestershire

Low demand1.03x oversubscription

Places available

3,039

Applications

3,138

Got 1st preference

90.0%

Got preferred school

98.9%

Secondary admissions across South Gloucestershire (2025/26)

Inspection History(7)

24 June 2025
8 March 2022
24 October 2018

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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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