Glenwood School, Benfleet
Glenwood School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Benfleet. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Glenwood School in detail
Glenwood School in its own words
In its own words: "Parents/Carers who are interested in considering the provision at Glenwood are warmly invited"
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Glenwood School are Cedar Hall School (1.9 miles, Good); Omnia Foundation (2.3 miles, Good); Castledon School (2.5 miles, Good); and The Bridge Pioneer (3.2 miles, Outstanding).
Cedar Hall SchoolOmnia FoundationCastledon SchoolThe Bridge Pioneer
What parents say
49 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Glenwood School (as of April 2026): 67% would recommend the school, 71% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (71%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
31.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Glenwood School has an education, health and care plan (263 of 263 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Glenwood School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Pitsea Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Arundel Road (w-bound), 200 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Glenwood School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 10 months agoThis judgement is from November 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Glenwood School has worked hard to stabilise after a difficult period, putting strong systems in place to keep children safe and supported. Staff know their pupils well and use a therapeutic approach to build positive relationships while managing behaviour effectively. The school ensures pupils can communicate their needs through a range of methods, with staff trained specifically to meet each child's individual requirements.
Key Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met with strong systems and an open culture where safety is everyone's responsibility -
- Staff are knowledgeable about pupils' SEND needs and receive ongoing training aligned to individual care plans -
- School supports pupils to communicate effectively using a range of systems including pictures, symbols, and verbal communication -
- Positive staff-pupil relationships built through a therapeutic approach to behaviour support -
- Reduction in behaviour incidents over the past year with stronger oversight systems in place
Areas for Improvement
- Need to ensure oversight systems are fully embedded across all areas of school improvement -
- Continue training new staff on best ways to support pupils' specific and changing needs -
- Some impact on quality of support due to staff turnover, though induction processes are being strengthened
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established robust processes, an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed, and children feel safe.
Glenwood School is a specialist school for pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties. Following a period of turbulence, leaders have brought stability and focused on improving safeguarding, behaviour, and attendance.
At a Glance
31.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
49 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % 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
Keep up with Glenwood School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Glenwood School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Glenwood School is in Essex; for families living there:
- Essex's school travel policy: Education Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
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 Essex is 9 (the median across 614 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
120%
Over capacity
263 pupils
220 places
43 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Benfleet
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Benfleet
Across Essex council
Places available
17,590
Applications
16,568
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
263
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Glenwood School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
263
Total Pupils
196
Boys
67
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
32
Teachers
8.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,682
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.6%
Overall absence
32.5%
Persistent absence
200
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
Glenwood School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Glenwood School
What are SATs results like at Glenwood School?
Of the pupils at Glenwood School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Glenwood School's Ofsted rating?
Glenwood School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Glenwood School?
No fixed boundary. When Glenwood School is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Glenwood School?
Glenwood School has around 263 pupils on roll. 32% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Glenwood School have specialist SEN provision?
Glenwood School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Glenwood School?
12.6% of sessions were missed at Glenwood School in 2024/25. 32.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Glenwood School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Glenwood 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 Glenwood School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 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 Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Glenwood School?
Glenwood School is at Rushbottom Lane, New Thundersley, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 4LW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)