Lonsdale School, Stevenage
Lonsdale School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Stevenage. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Lonsdale School in detail
Lonsdale School in its own words
In its own words: "The school provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the school contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people. Lonsdale is a school for physically and neurologically impaired young people aged from 3 to 18 years. Each of our pupils has unique and sometimes complex needs."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Lonsdale is a vibrant, happy and flourishing place to be. People sometimes ask us what's the secret? But we don't see it like that. For all of us who learn, teach and work here, three things in particular matter - ambition, community and empowerment."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cricket, dance, choir, STEM, cooking, gardening and film.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Lonsdale School are Larwood School (0.7 miles, Good); Greenside School (1 mile, Good); The Valley School (1.1 miles, Good); and East Hall School (3.6 miles, Good).
Larwood SchoolGreenside SchoolThe Valley SchoolEast Hall School
What parents say
28 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Lonsdale School (as of September 2025): 89% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that pupils behave well (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 10 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
38.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (67%), Asian (9%) and Black (9%).
Almost every pupil at Lonsdale School has an education, health and care plan (128 of 128 in 2026). The most common need among them is a physical disability.
Lonsdale School provides for pupils with physical disability.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Stevenage Railway Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 297 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Lonsdale 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); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from January 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Lonsdale School provides an environment where pupils thrive academically and personally. Teachers know each pupil well and adapt their teaching to meet individual needs, helping pupils make strong progress. The caring ethos means pupils develop resilience, strong friendships, and the confidence to manage challenges both at school and in preparing for adult life.
Key Strengths
- Pupils show determination and develop excellent communication and problem-solving skills
- Reading teaching has improved markedly with most pupils reading fluently and enjoying books
- Staff adapt teaching well based on individual pupil needs, leading to strong progress
- Pupils build strong relationships with peers and staff, showing empathy and supporting each other
- The school prepares pupils well for adult life with practical skills and safety awareness
Areas for Improvement
- Some subjects lack clear curriculum guidance, so teachers do not know exactly what pupils must learn and review over time
- This results in pupils sometimes forgetting key knowledge in certain subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with school staff creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Enrichment and extra-curricular clubs run by older pupils, including opportunities to develop leadership skills
Lonsdale School has successfully maintained good standards since its previous inspection. Pupils thrive in a caring environment where they develop strong learning attitudes, communication skills, and achieve ambitious curriculum goals.
At a Glance
38.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Physical
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
28 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
Keep up with Lonsdale School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lonsdale School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lonsdale School is in Hertfordshire; for families living there:
- Hertfordshire's school travel policy: Read the home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 3 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 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 Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 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
97%
Near capacity
128 pupils
132 places
4 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Stevenage
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stevenage
Across Hertfordshire council
Places available
15,222
Applications
13,456
Got 1st preference
77.5%
Got preferred school
94.9%
All secondary applications across Hertfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(11)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
128
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Lonsdale School provides for pupils with physical disability.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
128
Total Pupils
78
Boys
50
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
5.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,330
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
15.7%
Overall absence
53.9%
Persistent absence
102
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
Lonsdale School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Lonsdale School
What are GCSE results like at Lonsdale School?
In the 2025 results, pupils at Lonsdale School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.3. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Lonsdale School's Ofsted rating?
Lonsdale School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Lonsdale School?
No fixed boundary. When Lonsdale School is oversubscribed, Hertfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Lonsdale School?
Lonsdale School has around 128 pupils on roll. 38% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Lonsdale School have specialist SEN provision?
Lonsdale School provides for pupils with physical disability.
What is attendance like at Lonsdale School?
15.7% of sessions were missed at Lonsdale School in 2024/25. 53.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lonsdale School?
Apply through Hertfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Lonsdale 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 Lonsdale School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 3 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 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 Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Lonsdale School?
Lonsdale School is at Brittain Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 8UT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)