Dudley Port School has closed (Friday 31 July 2026).
The information below is kept for reference.
Dudley Port School, Dudley Port
Dudley Port School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Dudley Port. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2024. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2026 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2024)
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Dudley Port School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Dudley Port School are Compass Community School Victoria Park (0.4 miles, Good); The Meadows School (1.2 miles, Requires improvement); Tipton Green College (1.3 miles); and The Wenlock School (1.9 miles).
Compass Community School Victoria ParkThe Meadows SchoolTipton Green CollegeThe Wenlock School
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Dudley Port School has an education, health and care plan (27 of 27 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Dudley Port Station, about 60 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dudley Port Station (adjacent), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Dudley Port School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
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 · 7 months agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Did not meet the independent school standards in Part 1 (quality of education) and Part 8 (leadership and management).
- Part 1: quality of educationNot met
- 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 managementNot met
Progress-monitoring inspection, 4 March 2026: The school did not meet all the standards Ofsted checked.
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school has strong safeguarding systems in place and staff are well-trained to support vulnerable pupils. The school engages effectively with external agencies and families to provide additional support. Classroom resources have been invested in and are well-used by staff and pupils to aid learning.
Key Strengths
- Safeguarding practices are effective with well-trained staff and proper procedures in place
- School has invested in quality classroom resources including reading books and learning materials
- Leaders engage well with external agencies to support pupils and families
Areas for Improvement
- No substantive headteacher in post - leadership instability is severely impacting the school
- Action plans have been drawn up but not effectively implemented due to lack of oversight
- Curriculum lacks clarity - schemes of work have not been redesigned to show what knowledge pupils should learn and in what order
- Reading support programme is not effectively implemented - pupils with low literacy levels are not becoming confident readers
- Assessment systems are weak - staff cannot identify gaps in learning or use information to adapt teaching
- Many teachers lack subject-specific knowledge and lessons sometimes contain inaccurate content
- Teachers lack information about pupils' individual needs and barriers to learning, leading to poorly matched work
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - staff are trained to recognise when pupils need help, leaders keep accurate records and make appropriate referrals, and all required checks on adults are completed.
Dudley Port School is an independent special school for 27 pupils aged 11-16 with complex needs. The school does not currently meet independent school standards due to ongoing leadership instability and failure to implement planned improvements.
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 Dudley Port School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
90%
Near capacity
27 pupils
30 places
3 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Dudley Port
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Dudley Port
Across Sandwell council
Places available
5,146
Applications
4,404
Got 1st preference
80.8%
Got preferred school
95.8%
All secondary applications across Sandwell council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
27
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
27
Total Pupils
24
Boys
3
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about Dudley Port School
What are GCSE results like at Dudley Port School?
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 Dudley Port School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Dudley Port School's Ofsted rating?
Dudley Port School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2024, it was rated Requires Improvement.
Does Dudley Port School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in October 2024, Dudley Port School did not meet the independent school standards in Part 1 (quality of education) and Part 8 (leadership and management). At a later progress-monitoring inspection in March 2026, the school did not meet all the standards Ofsted checked.
How many pupils go to Dudley Port School?
Dudley Port School has around 27 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Dudley Port School?
Dudley Port School 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.
Where is Dudley Port School?
Dudley Port School is at Dudley Port School, Station Drive, Dudley Port, West Midlands, DY4 7QR.