Longridge School, Penkridge
Longridge School is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 18 in Penkridge. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2024. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2026 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Longridge School in detail
Longridge School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "At our school, every child is known, valued and celebrated for who they are. We are a specialist setting dedicated to supporting pupils with special educational needs, and we take great pride in providing a safe, nurturing and inspiring environment where children and young people can grow in confidence, independence and happiness. We understand that every pupil’s journey is unique."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Longridge School are The Haven School (1.4 miles, Good); Heather Field School (3 miles, Outstanding); Robin's Nest School (3.2 miles, Good); and Little Kinvaston School (3.3 miles, Good).
The Haven SchoolHeather Field SchoolRobin's Nest SchoolLittle Kinvaston School
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Longridge School has an education, health and care plan (13 of 13 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Penkridge Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86).
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 · 1 month 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 September 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Longridge School excels at meeting the complex needs of pupils with autism and social, emotional and mental health difficulties through small class sizes and high levels of one-to-one support. Staff know pupils extremely well and use visual approaches and adapted resources to help all pupils, including those who are pre-verbal, understand how to stay safe and raise concerns. The school maintains specialist therapy provision including speech and language therapy and play therapy, alongside sensory and quiet spaces that support pupils' individual communication and sensory needs.
Key Strengths
- Strong safeguarding practices with detailed record-keeping and early identification of concerns
- Excellent supervision with most pupils receiving one-to-one support tailored to individual needs
- Well-governed leadership structure with clear roles and regular oversight from proprietor body
- Comprehensive health and safety management with all statutory testing up to date
- Specialist staff team skilled in de-escalation, physical intervention and emotional support
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - the school has detailed record-keeping systems that link safeguarding and behaviour records to notice early changes in pupils, with timely referrals to children's social care and close working relationships with social workers and other agencies.
Longridge School is a special educational needs school in Penkridge, Staffordshire, serving pupils with autism, moderate learning difficulties and social, emotional and mental health needs. The school has applied to increase its maximum pupil numbers from the current level to 28 pupils.
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 Longridge School
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 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
65%
Available places
13 pupils
20 places
7 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Penkridge
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Penkridge
Across Staffordshire council
Places available
8,807
Applications
7,681
Got 1st preference
91.9%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across Staffordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Longridge 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
13
Total Pupils
10
Boys
3
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Longridge School
What is Longridge School's Ofsted rating?
Longridge School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2026, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2024, it was rated Good.
Does Longridge School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in February 2024, Longridge School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Longridge School?
Longridge School has around 13 pupils on roll.
Does Longridge School have specialist SEN provision?
Longridge School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Longridge School?
Longridge 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 Longridge School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Longridge School?
Longridge School is at Levedale Road, Penkridge, Penkridge, ST18 9AL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)