Birch Wood (Melton Area Special School), Melton Mowbray

In its own words: "Birch Wood Area Special School consists of two successful and vibrant special schools- Birch Wood Grange Drive (age 4-19 years) and Birch Wood Vale (age 11-19 years) which includes Ashton House a secondary specialist autism provision and our newly formed Birch Wood College Post 16."

Coming up: an open day on Monday 29 March 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

Birch Wood (Melton Area Special School) is one of 21 schools run by Discovery Schools Academies Trust Ltd, an academy trust.

Of the 25 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 8% to a further education college.

41.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (89%) and Mixed (6%).

Almost every pupil at Birch Wood (Melton Area Special School) has an education, health and care plan (246 of 246 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.

Birch Wood (Melton Area Special School) provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

The nearest railway station is Melton Mowbray Rail Station, about 1200 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Guadaloupe Avenue (opposite), 190 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Birch Wood (Melton Area Special School) stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 96 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Leicestershire (58), as is usual near a town centre.