Aurora Rowan School, Reading

Special
Other independent special school
Mixed
Ages 519
Boarding school

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Lesley Walkden
Pupils:22 / 30 capacity
LA:Oxfordshire
Phone:01189073322
Address:Dysons Wood, Tokers Green, Reading, RG4 9EY
Status:open
Opened:30 October 2024

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 7 months ago

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

Achievement
Strong Standard
Behaviour
Strong Standard
Personal Development
Strong Standard
Leadership
Strong Standard
Inspected 3 February 2026View full report
URN:151119
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Henley and Thame
Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Aurora Rowan School excels at creating a calm, predictable environment where pupils with complex needs feel safe and supported from the moment they arrive. Every aspect of the curriculum is carefully tailored to each child's individual needs, with expert use of play-based learning, therapy and visual supports to help them develop confidence and independence. Staff go above and beyond to support families, celebrate every achievement and prepare older pupils for life after school through real-world experiences like running a school enterprise.

Key Strengths

  • Highly individualised learning plans reviewed weekly ensure pupils make excellent progress at their own pace
  • Exceptional attendance rates achieved through clear expectations and responsive support for families
  • Speech and language and occupational therapy embedded throughout the school day
  • Calm, structured routines and visual supports help pupils feel safe and settle quickly
  • Strong pastoral care with a relational approach that effectively manages behaviour

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Cultural weeks celebrating diverse backgrounds, visits to local shops and cafes, farm-based sessions, The Minty Express school-run enterprise, careers programme

Aurora Rowan School is a special educational needs school that provides expert support for pupils with significant developmental gaps in communication, learning and regulation skills. The school has been judged as meeting the strong standard across all areas of inspection.

At a Glance

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

0.0

Avg class size

0

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Chalkhouse Green Lane (opp)
500m · 8 min walk
Rokeby Drive (opp)
1.1km · 17 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

73%

Available places

22 pupils

30 capacity

8 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Reading

Low pressure
New homes approved:9,179
Projected new pupils:1,652

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Reading

Admissions Demand - Oxfordshire

Low demand0.91x oversubscription

Places available

7,684

Applications

6,969

Got 1st preference

87.5%

Got preferred school

96.5%

Secondary admissions across Oxfordshire (2025/26)

Inspection History(2)

3 February 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
9 October 2024

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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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