Brook Green Centre for Learning, Plymouth
Brook Green Centre for Learning is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Plymouth. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Brook Green Centre for Learning in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Brook Green Centre for Learning are Mill Ford School (0.6 miles, Outstanding); Woodlands School (0.8 miles, Good); Mount Tamar School (1.2 miles); and Mount Tamar School (1.2 miles).
Mill Ford SchoolWoodlands SchoolMount Tamar SchoolMount Tamar School
What parents say
23 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Brook Green Centre for Learning (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 83% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (91%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (78%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 20 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 95% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 85% to a further education college.
Who goes there
58.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Brook Green Centre for Learning has an education, health and care plan (111 of 111 in 2026). The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.
Brook Green Centre for Learning provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is St Budeaux Ferry Road Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Woodlands School (w-bound), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Brook Green Centre for Learning 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
In 2024/25, Brook Green Centre for Learning issued 8 suspensions, 7.5 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 July 2014, 12 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
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Brook Green excels at developing pupils' character and social skills through an exceptionally well-designed personal development curriculum. The school is highly effective at supporting pupils with reading and writing through targeted programmes and staff training in adaptive teaching. Pupils benefit from strong relationships with staff, excellent outdoor learning opportunities, and coherent careers support that prepares them well for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional personal development curriculum that prepares pupils to be informed citizens and supports character development
- Strong focus on literacy skills with targeted early reading programmes and adaptive teaching strategies
- Well-planned, ambitious curriculum across subjects like mathematics and science that builds on prior knowledge
- Highly effective pastoral support and strong relationships between staff and pupils
- Excellent outdoor learning and physical development opportunities including swimming and Duke of Edinburgh awards
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment information about reading and writing is not used consistently across all subjects to adapt teaching
- Pupils receiving pupil premium funding do not attend school regularly enough, impacting their access to learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong safeguarding culture in place.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh awards, swimming, bicycle riding lessons, outdoor learning and art, school council with voting, trips including visit to Lille France, visitor programmes
Brook Green Centre for Learning is a special school for pupils aged 11-16 with cognition and learning and social, emotional and mental health needs. The school has high expectations for pupils' social, emotional and academic achievement, with pupils aspiring to do well and being well prepared for the world beyond school.
At a Glance
58.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
23 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Brook Green Centre for Learning
Message from Plymouth Short Breaks Team
30 Sep 2026
Succession Wealth volunteers at work
30 Sep 2026
Martial arts with Miss B
17 Sep 2026
Year 8 Students Step into the World of War Horse
17 Sep 2026
Start of term is on Monday 7th September for all Students
4 Sep 2026
Congratulations
21 Aug 2026
From Brook Green Centre for Learning's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Brook Green Centre for Learning
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Brook Green Centre for Learning from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Brook Green Centre for Learning is in Plymouth; for families living there:
Apply to Plymouth for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 17
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 14 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
5 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 Plymouth is 22 (the median across 107 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
113%
Over capacity
111 pupils
98 places
13 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Plymouth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Plymouth
Across Plymouth council
Places available
3,165
Applications
2,761
Got 1st preference
91.7%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All secondary applications across Plymouth council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
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
111
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Brook Green Centre for Learning provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
111
Total Pupils
79
Boys
32
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
5.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,022
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.3%
Overall absence
25.7%
Persistent absence
109
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
Brook Green Centre for Learning
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Brook Green Centre for Learning
What are GCSE results like at Brook Green Centre for Learning?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Brook Green Centre for Learning achieved an Attainment 8 score of 4.5. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Brook Green Centre for Learning's Ofsted rating?
Brook Green Centre for Learning's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Brook Green Centre for Learning?
No fixed boundary. When Brook Green Centre for Learning is oversubscribed, Plymouth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Brook Green Centre for Learning?
Brook Green Centre for Learning has around 111 pupils on roll. 59% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Brook Green Centre for Learning have specialist SEN provision?
Brook Green Centre for Learning provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Brook Green Centre for Learning?
10.3% of sessions were missed at Brook Green Centre for Learning in 2024/25. 25.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Brook Green Centre for Learning?
Apply through Plymouth's coordinated admissions process, naming Brook Green Centre for Learning 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 Brook Green Centre for Learning?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 14 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 5 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 Plymouth is 22 (the median across 107 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Brook Green Centre for Learning?
Brook Green Centre for Learning is at Bodmin Road, Whitleigh, Plymouth, Devon, PL5 4DZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)