Barrs Court School, Hereford
Barrs Court School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Hereford, part of Accordia Academies Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2022.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2022)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Barrs Court School in detail
Barrs Court School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Barrs Court School! At Barrs Court, we believe every child and young person deserves to feel safe, valued and understood. From the moment you walk through our doors, you will find a calm, nurturing and inclusive environment where relationships are at the heart of everything we do."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Barrs Court School are Royal National College for the Blind (0.5 miles, Good); The Beacon College (0.5 miles, Outstanding); Pathway Schools Limited (0.9 miles); and The Brookfield School (1 mile).
Royal National College for the BlindThe Beacon CollegePathway Schools LimitedThe Brookfield School
The trust
Barrs Court School is one of 3 schools run by Accordia Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 18 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
51.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Barrs Court School has an education, health and care plan (105 of 105 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Barrs Court School has a SEN unit for autism, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 95 places, 88 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hereford Rail Station, about 100 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).
19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bryngwyn Close (opposite), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 379 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Herefordshire, County of (4), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Barrs Court School issued 1 suspension, 1.1 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its November 2022 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
51.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism, SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Barrs Court School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Barrs Court School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Barrs Court School is in Herefordshire, County of; for families living there:
- Herefordshire, County of's school travel policy: School transport policy
- How to apply: Apply for school transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 39
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 39 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 7 serious and 31 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
11 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Herefordshire, County of is 2 (the median across 115 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
111%
Over capacity
105 pupils
95 places
10 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Hereford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hereford
Across Herefordshire, County of council
Places available
1,920
Applications
1,685
Got 1st preference
91.9%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All secondary applications across Herefordshire, County of council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
105
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Barrs Court School has a SEN unit for autism, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 95 places, 88 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
105
Total Pupils
79
Boys
26
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
6.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,005
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.9%
Overall absence
24.2%
Persistent absence
95
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Barrs Court School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Barrs Court School
What is Barrs Court School's Ofsted rating?
Barrs Court School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022.
What is the catchment area for Barrs Court School?
No fixed boundary. When Barrs Court School is oversubscribed, Herefordshire, County of allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Barrs Court School?
Barrs Court School has around 105 pupils on roll. 51% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Barrs Court School have specialist SEN provision?
Barrs Court School has a SEN unit for autism, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 95 places, 88 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Barrs Court School?
8.9% of sessions were missed at Barrs Court School in 2024/25. 24.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Barrs Court School?
Apply through Herefordshire, County of's coordinated admissions process, naming Barrs Court School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Barrs Court School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 39 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 7 serious and 31 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 11 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Herefordshire, County of is 2 (the median across 115 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Barrs Court School?
Barrs Court School is at Barrs Court Road, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR1 1EQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)