Brentwood School, Sale
Brentwood School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Sale. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Brentwood School in detail
Brentwood School in its own words
In its own words: "Brentwood is a friendly, safe and inclusive school and college where students are valued and feel a sense of belonging. It is a place where students' needs are met with care, empathy and understanding."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Brentwood School are Brentwood Community College (under 0.1 miles, Good); Manor Academy Sale (0.8 miles, Good); Changing Lives (1 mile); and Pictor Academy (1.7 miles, Outstanding).
Brentwood Community CollegeManor Academy SaleChanging LivesPictor Academy
What parents say
16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Brentwood School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school supports their child's wider development (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 15 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
47% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 24.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Brentwood School has an education, health and care plan (185 of 185 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Brentwood School provides for pupils with autism, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Timperley (Manchester Metrolink), about 1 mile away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Firsway (near), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Brentwood School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Brentwood School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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 June 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Brentwood School excels at supporting pupils with complex learning needs to develop real independence and life skills. Every aspect of school life, from Year 7 through the sixth form, is designed to prepare pupils for adulthood - whether that's cooking, managing money, building healthy relationships, or gaining work experience. Parents consistently praise the exceptional care and understanding staff provide.
Key Strengths
- Pupils are exceptionally well cared for and supported by staff who understand their varied needs and abilities
- Broad, carefully designed curriculum with strong focus on preparation for adulthood, independent living skills, and employment
- Expert delivery of phonics and communication development, enabling pupils to develop confidence and have a voice
- Skilled staff use therapeutic approaches to help pupils regulate emotions and manage behaviour effectively
- Strong sixth form provision with work experience, careers guidance, and community volunteering opportunities
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff do not consistently use assessment information when planning lessons, meaning activities do not always account for what pupils already know
- This occasionally slows progress towards pupils' individual targets in their education, health and care plans
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong culture and practice in place.
Extracurricular Activities
Trips to the gym and cinema, disability sports tournaments, Christmas market enterprise projects, sixth form community café volunteering
Brentwood School has successfully maintained its outstanding standards since the previous inspection. All pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school provides exceptional support and care that helps them thrive and prepare for adulthood.
At a Glance
47.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism, SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
16 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Brentwood School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Brentwood School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Brentwood School is in Trafford; for families living there:
Apply to Trafford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 6 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
1 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 Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 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
97%
Near capacity
185 pupils
190 places
5 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Sale
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sale
Across Trafford council
Places available
3,679
Applications
3,221
Got 1st preference
81.0%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All secondary applications across Trafford council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
185
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Brentwood School provides for pupils with autism, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
185
Total Pupils
132
Boys
53
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
35
Teachers
5.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,002
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.1%
Overall absence
27.9%
Persistent absence
122
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
Brentwood School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Brentwood School
What is Brentwood School's Ofsted rating?
Brentwood School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2019, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Brentwood School?
No fixed boundary. When Brentwood School is oversubscribed, Trafford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Brentwood School?
Brentwood School has around 185 pupils on roll. 47% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Brentwood School have specialist SEN provision?
Brentwood School provides for pupils with autism, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Brentwood School?
10.1% of sessions were missed at Brentwood School in 2024/25. 27.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Brentwood School?
Apply through Trafford's coordinated admissions process, naming Brentwood 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 Brentwood School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 6 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 1 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 Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Brentwood School?
Brentwood School is at Cherry Lane, Sale, Cheshire, M33 4GY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)