Cross Keys Learning, Kent
Cross Keys Learning is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 17 in Kent. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2024. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cross Keys Learning in detail
Cross Keys Learning in its own words
In its own words: "Cross Keys Learning opened its first school in St Peter’s, Broadstairs, Kent in September 2018 to provide a nurturing, inclusive and supportive environment for Autistic students and those with social & communication difficulties. In 2022 the second site at Womenswold near Canterbury opened."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Cross Keys Learning are Life Skills Enterprise (0.6 miles); St Anthony's School (0.8 miles, Good); Stone Bay School (1.2 miles, Good); and Liberty College (1.2 miles, Good).
Life Skills EnterpriseSt Anthony's SchoolStone Bay SchoolLiberty College
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Cross Keys Learning has an education, health and care plan (29 of 29 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Broadstairs Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Cabin (adjacent), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 178 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.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 11 months agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Cross Keys Learning creates a safe and supportive environment where pupils feel they have a second home. The school excels at safeguarding with thorough staff training, clear procedures, and well-organized records that help identify and manage concerns. Leadership is reflective and proactive, working closely with external professionals and the local authority to support pupils' wellbeing.
Key Strengths
- Excellent safeguarding culture with well-trained staff and clear communication systems
- Detailed and well-organized safeguarding records that connect information about behaviour and attendance
- Robust staff recruitment procedures with thorough pre-employment screening
- Comprehensive curriculum on personal safety including specialist input from external professionals
- Strong leadership with a proactive approach to continuous improvement and openness to challenge
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - the school has established rigorous systems with well-trained staff, clear communication lines, detailed record-keeping, and a strong culture where pupils report feeling safe.
Cross Keys Learning is an independent special school for pupils aged 11-17 with social, emotional and mental health difficulties and autism. The school met all independent school standards checked during this emergency inspection.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Cross Keys Learning
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 10 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 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
41%
Available places
29 pupils
70 places
41 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Kent
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Kent
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)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
29
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Cross Keys Learning is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
29
Total Pupils
28
Boys
1
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Cross Keys Learning
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Cross Keys Learning
What are GCSE results like at Cross Keys Learning?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Cross Keys Learning can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Cross Keys Learning's Ofsted rating?
Cross Keys Learning's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2024, it was rated Good.
Does Cross Keys Learning meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in April 2024, Cross Keys Learning met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Cross Keys Learning?
Cross Keys Learning has around 29 pupils on roll.
Does Cross Keys Learning have specialist SEN provision?
Cross Keys Learning is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Cross Keys Learning?
Cross Keys Learning is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Cross Keys Learning?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 10 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 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 Cross Keys Learning?
Cross Keys Learning is at Suite 1 & 2 the Lead Centre, Dane Valley Road, Kent, CT10 3JJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)