Bower Grove School, Maidstone
Bower Grove School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 16 in Maidstone. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2019)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Bower Grove School in detail
Bower Grove School in its own words
In its own words: "We offer our pupils a high quality of education, accessible to learners of varied abilities and different learning styles, whilst taking into consideration their social, emotional, behavioural and mental health needs. The school is designated for 225 pupils with learning difficulties, and SEMH needs. Many pupils also have Autism Spectrum Conditions and communication difficulties or ADHD."
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are very proud of our school and extend a warm welcome to you from all the pupils, staff and governors. We are extremely proud of our maintained 'Outstanding OFSTED judgement', our Inclusion Quality Mark for Excellence, and our Gold Standard Investors in People Award."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Bower Grove School are Serenity School Maidstone (1.7 miles); Five Acre Wood School (2.3 miles, Outstanding); Sports Connect (2.3 miles, Good); and Leigh Academy Snowfields (3.3 miles, Outstanding).
Serenity School MaidstoneFive Acre Wood SchoolSports ConnectLeigh Academy Snowfields
What parents say
51 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bower Grove School (as of April 2026): 100% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 89% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (100%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (88%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 25 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 72% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 48% to a further education college.
Who goes there
67.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Bower Grove School has an education, health and care plan (246 of 246 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Bower Grove School provides for pupils with autism and social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is East Farleigh Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cherry Tree (adjacent), 180 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 175 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 Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bower Grove School issued 20 suspensions, 8.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from September 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Bower Grove School excels at building confident, resilient pupils who feel protected and valued. Staff know each pupil exceptionally well and teach them practical strategies to manage emotions and behaviour, with many pupils showing reduced behaviour incidents over time. The school balances academic learning with crucial emotional and social development, offering ambitious qualifications and vocational experiences alongside overnight trips and sporting competitions to prepare pupils for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on building pupils' self-esteem, well-being and emotional resilience through positive staff relationships
- Well-ordered subject curriculums with logical sequencing to build confidence and strong foundations for learning
- Excellent early reading provision with rigorous phonics teaching and personalised interventions for pupils falling behind
- Comprehensive travel training and extensive work experience placements tailored to pupils' interests (army, primary schools, web design, bricklaying, motor mechanics)
- Rigorous staff training on behaviour and well-being needs, resulting in minimal classroom disruptions
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching adaptations and resources to support learning lack precision in some instances, meaning some pupils do not receive the right level of support to practise and develop new knowledge and skills
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Overnight stays (Isle of Wight, France), sporting competitions, school council, travel training, work experience placements (army, primary schools, web design, bricklaying, motor mechanics, public service)
Bower Grove School is a special school that has maintained the high standards identified at its previous outstanding inspection. The school prioritises pupils' emotional and social development while providing ambitious academic pathways and extensive preparation for adulthood.
At a Glance
67.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Autism, SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
51 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 11% to 7% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 7% to 3% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 0% to 7% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Bower Grove School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bower Grove School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bower Grove School is in Kent; for families living there:
Apply to Kent for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 33
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 33 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 27 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 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 Kent is 11 (the median across 711 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
109%
Over capacity
246 pupils
225 places
21 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Maidstone
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Maidstone
Across Kent council
Places available
19,539
Applications
18,644
Got 1st preference
78.9%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Kent council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
246
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Bower Grove School provides for pupils with autism and social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
246
Total Pupils
213
Boys
33
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
42
Teachers
5.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,113
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
15.6%
Overall absence
39.7%
Persistent absence
247
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
Bower Grove School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Bower Grove School
What are GCSE results like at Bower Grove School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Bower Grove School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 9.1. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Bower Grove School's Ofsted rating?
Bower Grove School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2019, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Bower Grove School?
No fixed boundary. When Bower Grove School is oversubscribed, Kent allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Bower Grove School?
Bower Grove School has around 246 pupils on roll. 67% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Bower Grove School have specialist SEN provision?
Bower Grove School provides for pupils with autism and social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Bower Grove School?
15.6% of sessions were missed at Bower Grove School in 2024/25. 39.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bower Grove School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Bower Grove 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 Bower Grove School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 33 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 27 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 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 Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bower Grove School?
Bower Grove School is at Fant Lane, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8NL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)