Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School, Dorney
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School is a special school for pupils aged 8 to 18 in Dorney. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, ended in a report card: 6 strong standard. Before that it was rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in March 2024.
- Ofsted report card
- 6 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 10 March 2026 inspection grades Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School on 6 areas: 6 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve very well across the school and are increasingly well prepared for the next stage of their education."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have secured strong improvements in attendance, particularly for the most vulnerable pupils."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed and implemented a highly ambitious curriculum that is sharply focused on enabling pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to thrive both academically and personally."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is highly effective and underpinned by precise identification and assessment of individual need."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders, proprietors and those responsible for governance have driven strong improvement since the last inspection."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school places a strong emphasis on pupils' personal development and wellbeing."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School -a specialist provision for pupils in Years 4 to 11 (ages 8-16) who may experience Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties and/or have a diagnosis of Autism or associated conditions. At Eton Dorney, we believe that education is a journey, not a destination."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School are Forest Bridge School (1.9 miles, Good); Darul Madinah (2.5 miles, Good); The Green Room School (2.5 miles, Outstanding); and Arbour Vale School (2.9 miles, Good).
Forest Bridge SchoolDarul MadinahThe Green Room SchoolArbour Vale School
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School has an education, health and care plan (39 of 39 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Taplow Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dent's Corner (eastbound), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 14 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, other theft and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Buckinghamshire (44).
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 agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since January 2026 for independent schools)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Safeguarding standards: met
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's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School
Pupils are friendly, polite and welcoming at this deeply caring and aspirational school. Values of nurturing, self-belief, kindness and compassion underpin high expectations and warm relationships. Pupils feel safe and highly supported. Expectations are consistently clear and the school is an oasis of calm, offering a nurturing platform for pupils to manage their emotions and access learning. Behaviour across the school is strong and improving, particularly for the most vulnerable pupils. Leaders have established high expectations that are understood and consistently applied by staff. Excellent pastoral care and warm, respectful relationships help pupils to feel safe, valued and ready to learn. Pupils are not concerned about bullying because leaders address any worries swiftly and robustly. Pupils achieve well here. They develop vital reading, writing, mathematics and communication skills alongside an increasing range of formal qualifications including GCSEs, BTEC National Diplomas and Arts awards. Leaders and proprietors ensure that the curriculum provides impressive preparation for future living. From gardening to shopping to cooking, pupils learn independence, resilience and confidence to look after themselves in the modern world. Pupils thrive in this school with excellent personal development opportunities. They develop workplace skills and knowledge through links with employers and high-quality careers guidance. Pupils embrace world faiths and celebrate diversity as a result of strong personal, social, health and economic education. The school provides targeted support, including pastoral guidance and external agency involvement, to help pupils to attend school consistently. This is particularly transformational for pupils who have been out of education for extended periods of time or struggled to attend previous schools. As a result, attendance for disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs has risen significantly and continues to improve. Pupils told inspectors that this school has given them a second chance and helped them to believe in themselves.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 10 March 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a deeply caring school where every pupil is known, valued and supported to succeed. Staff build warm, trusting relationships and provide excellent pastoral care tailored to individual needs. The school combines high academic expectations with a nurturing approach that helps pupils develop confidence, resilience and a strong sense of belonging.
Key Strengths
- Strong achievement across the school with excellent preparation for transitions between key stages and into further education
- Highly effective support for pupils with SEND, underpinned by precise assessment and personalised targets
- Excellent pastoral care and warm relationships that help pupils feel safe, valued and ready to learn
- Significant improvements in attendance and behaviour, particularly for vulnerable pupils
- Impressive provision for mental health and emotional wellbeing, including art therapy for trauma
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed.
Extracurricular Activities
Coaching, football, rugby, boxing, horse riding, work experience, art therapy, museums and activity centre trips, visits to places of worship across different faiths, assemblies, enrichment opportunities
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School is a special school that has driven strong improvement since the last inspection, with pupils achieving very well and leaders creating an ambitious, inclusive curriculum tailored to individual needs. The school places strong emphasis on pupils' personal development and wellbeing, supported by excellent pastoral care and a deeply nurturing environment.
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 Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
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 Buckinghamshire is 4 (the median across 274 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
78%
Available places
39 pupils
50 places
11 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Across Buckinghamshire council
Places available
6,847
Applications
6,535
Got 1st preference
76.7%
Got preferred school
93.9%
All secondary applications across Buckinghamshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
Independent School standard inspection
Met all the independent school standards.
Independent School standard inspection
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
39
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School 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
39
Total Pupils
27
Boys
12
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School
What are GCSE results like at Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic 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 Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School's Ofsted rating?
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2024, it was rated Requires Improvement.
Does Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in March 2026, Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School?
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School has around 39 pupils on roll.
Does Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School have specialist SEN provision?
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School?
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic 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.
How many road collisions happen near Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 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 Buckinghamshire is 4 (the median across 274 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School?
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School is at 34 Lake End Road, Dorney, Dorney, SL4 6QS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)