Chapel Green School, Old Buckenham
Chapel Green School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Old Buckenham, part of Trust Norfolk-SEN. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Chapel Green School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Chapel Green School are Acorn Park School (2.1 miles); Aurora Eccles School (3.4 miles); and Aurora White House School (3.4 miles, Good).
Acorn Park SchoolAurora Eccles SchoolAurora White House School
The trust
Chapel Green School is one of 6 schools run by Trust Norfolk-SEN, an academy trust.
What parents say
25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Chapel Green School (as of September 2025): 80% would recommend the school, 84% say their child is happy there and 40% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school supports their child's wider development (84%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (40%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 10 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
38.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 9.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Chapel Green School has an education, health and care plan (198 of 199 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Chapel Green School has a resourced provision for 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: 160 places, 180 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Attleborough Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.
1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is High School (adjacent), 220 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Chapel Green School issued 15 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 November 2017, 8 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
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Chapel Green excels at creating a warm, supportive environment where pupils develop positive relationships with staff who truly know them. The school delivers an ambitious curriculum tailored to each child's needs, helping them build independence and essential life skills. With outstanding behaviour support and a strong focus on reading, communication and personal development, pupils gain confidence and pride in their achievements.
Key Strengths
- Behaviour and attitudes are outstanding, with pupils calm, happy and respectful throughout the day
- Strong emphasis on reading and communication across the curriculum, with pupils receiving effective phonics instruction and enjoying a diverse range of books
- Excellent support for personal development and independence, including careers advice, work experience in shops and cafes, and trips to prepare pupils for life beyond school
- Staff are highly skilled and passionate about delivering lessons precisely matched to pupils' needs
- Clear, consistent behaviour expectations personalised to each pupil help create a positive, nurturing environment
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff do not adapt teaching precisely enough to all pupils' starting points, which can slow progress for some learners
- The school should ensure more consistent adaptation of learning activities to meet individual needs and enable highest possible outcomes
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Boxing, dancing, crafts, gaming, coding, hairdressing, car maintenance, work experience in shops and cafes, trips to towns, libraries, theme parks and the Norfolk Broads, volunteering opportunities, public transport training
Chapel Green School is a special school for pupils aged 3-19, all with Education, Health and Care plans. The school provides exceptional support across a wide range of learning needs with an ambitious, tailored curriculum designed to help every pupil thrive.
At a Glance
38.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: SpLD, Vision, Other +9
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
25 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 3 nearby schools
Keep up with Chapel Green School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Chapel Green School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Chapel Green School is in Norfolk; for families living there:
Apply to Norfolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
0 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 Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 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
111%
Over capacity
199 pupils
180 places
19 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Old Buckenham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Old Buckenham
Across Norfolk council
Places available
9,559
Applications
8,625
Got 1st preference
94.1%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All secondary applications across Norfolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
198
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Chapel Green School has a resourced provision for 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: 160 places, 180 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
199
Total Pupils
131
Boys
68
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
36
Teachers
5.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£43,926
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.6%
Overall absence
25.3%
Persistent absence
158
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
Chapel Green School
Questions parents ask about Chapel Green School
What are SATs results like at Chapel Green School?
Of the pupils at Chapel Green School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Chapel Green School's Ofsted rating?
Chapel Green School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Chapel Green School?
No fixed boundary. When Chapel Green School is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Chapel Green School?
Chapel Green School has around 199 pupils on roll. 39% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Chapel Green School have specialist SEN provision?
Chapel Green School has a resourced provision for 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: 160 places, 180 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Chapel Green School?
9.6% of sessions were missed at Chapel Green School in 2024/25. 25.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Chapel Green School?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Chapel Green 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 Chapel Green School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 0 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 Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Chapel Green School?
Chapel Green School is at Attleborough Road, Old Buckenham, Norfolk, NR17 1RF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)