Brooke School, Rugby
Brooke School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Rugby, part of Unity MAT. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Brooke School in detail
Brooke School in its own words
In its own words: "Please use the links below to access the relevant pages about our school:"
From the headteacher's welcome: "Thank you for taking the time to find out about our school. I believe that it is a privilege for any school to be given the responsibility of educating a young person. I am proud to be leading Brooke School and the team of professionals sharing with you our commitment to our pupils."
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 Brooke School are Quest Academy (0.6 miles, Good); Avon Park School (1.6 miles, Outstanding); and Willow Park School (1.9 miles, Requires improvement).
The trust
Brooke School is one of 3 schools run by Unity MAT, an academy trust.
What parents say
32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Brooke School (as of September 2025): 53% would recommend the school, 75% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (75%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 11 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 9% to a further education college.
Who goes there
45.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 16% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Brooke School has an education, health and care plan (211 of 213 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Brooke School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Rugby Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Harris High School (opposite), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Brooke School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 200 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Warwickshire (88), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Brooke School issued 38 suspensions, 19 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 October 2013, 13 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
Early Years
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Brooke School has made remarkable progress and creates a calm, respectful environment where all pupils are supported to communicate and learn. The school excels at preparing young people for independent living through real-world experiences like managing a cafe and living skills flats. Staff demonstrate genuine care and understanding of pupils' individual needs, making learning accessible through specialist technology and tailored support.
Key Strengths
- Strong curriculum development with clear progression of knowledge and skills across all key stages
- Effective reading support systems with prompt identification of gaps and well-attended parent workshops
- Comprehensive communication and interaction strategies including aided language displays, signing, and assistive technology
- Positive staff-pupil relationships and improved behaviour management approaches
- Strong preparation for adulthood through community links, work experience at a local cafe, and sixth-form independent living skills
Areas for Improvement
- Some newer curriculum areas not yet embedded enough to measure impact on pupils' learning over time
- Inconsistent staff implementation of agreed communication strategies and support expectations, slowing learning for some pupils
- Early years activities do not always accurately match individual children's needs, causing some to become unsettled
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Art club, sports club, singing club, cafe management at local church, independent living skills in sixth-form flat
Brooke School has improved significantly from its previous inadequate rating, with a sharply focused curriculum and strong support for pupils with severe learning difficulties. The school maintains a calm environment where pupils achieve well and benefit from community links that raise their aspirations.
At a Glance
45.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
32 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby schools
Keep up with Brooke School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Brooke School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Brooke School is in Warwickshire; for families living there:
- Warwickshire's school travel policy: Free school transport for students under the age of 16
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 13
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 11 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 Warwickshire is 7 (the median across 286 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
87%
Available places
213 pupils
245 places
32 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Rugby
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rugby
Across Warwickshire council
Places available
7,662
Applications
6,716
Got 1st preference
82.3%
Got preferred school
97.2%
All secondary applications across Warwickshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
211
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Brooke School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
213
Total Pupils
151
Boys
62
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
25
Teachers
8.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,639
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.4%
Overall absence
36.2%
Persistent absence
163
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
Brooke School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Brooke School
What are GCSE results like at Brooke School?
In the 2025 results, pupils at Brooke School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 2.7. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Brooke School's Ofsted rating?
Brooke School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Brooke School?
No fixed boundary. When Brooke School is oversubscribed, Warwickshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Brooke School?
Brooke School has around 213 pupils on roll. 46% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Brooke School have specialist SEN provision?
Brooke School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Brooke School?
12.4% of sessions were missed at Brooke School in 2024/25. 36.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Brooke School?
Apply through Warwickshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Brooke 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 Brooke School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 11 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Warwickshire is 7 (the median across 286 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Brooke School?
Brooke School is at Overslade Lane, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV22 6DY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)