Crowdys Hill School, Swindon
Crowdys Hill School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Swindon. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Crowdys Hill School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Crowdys Hill School are Connex (0.3 miles); St Luke's Academy (0.7 miles, Good); Compass Community School Wheatley Park (1.3 miles, Good); and Nyland School (1.7 miles, Good).
ConnexSt Luke's AcademyCompass Community School Wheatley ParkNyland School
What parents say
59 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Crowdys Hill School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 89% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (92%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (78%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 41 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 15% to a further education college.
Who goes there
41.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 13.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Crowdys Hill School has an education, health and care plan (348 of 348 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Crowdys Hill School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Swindon Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Marsland Road (w-bound), 250 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Crowdys Hill School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 232 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Swindon (132), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Crowdys Hill School issued 4 suspensions, 1.2 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 · 1 year agoThis judgement is from February 2019, 7 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 June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Crowdys Hill School creates a warm, supportive environment where all pupils with SEND thrive and feel genuinely cared for. The school offers an ambitious curriculum that develops life skills for adulthood, with particularly strong focus on communication and reading. Beyond the classroom, pupils access exceptional enrichment through the school farm, outdoor activities, and community projects that build their confidence and independence.
Key Strengths
- Ambitious, well-designed curriculum tailored to pupils' individual needs and Education, Health and Care plans
- Strong emphasis on communication skills development, with reading taught effectively across all phases
- Rich enrichment activities including school farm, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and outdoor adventures that build independence and confidence
- Skilled staff who work collaboratively with therapists to support pupils' development
- Sixth-form students successfully progress into further training or employment through work preparation activities
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff lack thorough understanding of their subject areas, limiting their ability to adapt learning to the right level for pupils
- Assessment information is not used effectively enough to inform and improve curriculum development in some subjects
- Attendance remains inconsistent, particularly among sixth-form students, hindering progress through the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with school leaders creating an open and positive culture that prioritises pupils' interests.
Extracurricular Activities
School farm, Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, adventurous outdoor activities, firefighting course, conference presentations, local homeless charity work
Crowdys Hill School is a special school for pupils with moderate and severe learning difficulties that provides a nurturing environment where all pupils feel safe and well supported. The school maintains high expectations for achievement across all age groups from Reception to sixth form.
At a Glance
41.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
MLD, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
59 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 5 nearby schools
Latest from Crowdys Hill School
Careers
28 Sep 2026
Policies, Procedures & Privacy Notices
24 Sep 2026
Homework
24 Sep 2026
Crowdys Hill | Special Educational Needs School | Swindon
17 Sep 2026
Parents/Carers | Crowdys Hill | Special Needs School | Swindon
7 Sep 2026
Secondary
26 Aug 2026
From Crowdys Hill School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Crowdys Hill School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Crowdys Hill School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Crowdys Hill School is in Swindon; for families living there:
- Swindon's school travel policy: School travel support
- How to apply: Apply for school travel support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 51
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 12
- Children hurt
- 11
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 51 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 12 serious and 39 slight.
11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise.
8 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 Swindon is 15.5 (the median across 92 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
154%
Over capacity
348 pupils
226 places
122 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Swindon
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Swindon
Across Swindon council
Places available
2,867
Applications
2,914
Got 1st preference
90.5%
Got preferred school
97.9%
All secondary applications across Swindon council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
348
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Crowdys Hill School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
348
Total Pupils
253
Boys
95
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
49
Teachers
7.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,853
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.7%
Overall absence
24.3%
Persistent absence
251
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
Crowdys Hill School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Crowdys Hill School
What are SATs results like at Crowdys Hill School?
Of the pupils at Crowdys Hill School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Crowdys Hill School's Ofsted rating?
Crowdys Hill School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Crowdys Hill School?
No fixed boundary. When Crowdys Hill School is oversubscribed, Swindon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Crowdys Hill School?
Crowdys Hill School has around 348 pupils on roll. 41% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Crowdys Hill School have specialist SEN provision?
Crowdys Hill School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Crowdys Hill School?
8.7% of sessions were missed at Crowdys Hill School in 2024/25. 24.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Crowdys Hill School?
Apply through Swindon's coordinated admissions process, naming Crowdys Hill 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 Crowdys Hill School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 51 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 12 serious and 39 slight. 11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise. 8 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 Swindon is 15.5 (the median across 92 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Crowdys Hill School?
Crowdys Hill School is at Jefferies Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 7HJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)