Lord Gowthorpe's Independent School, Dunnington
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This school excels at helping pupils thrive after difficult educational experiences, with dramatically improved attendance and strong pastoral care. Staff understand each pupil's needs deeply and make specific adjustments so they can access the full curriculum alongside their peers. The school prioritises reading, mental health and independence skills, giving pupils real confidence for their futures.
Key Strengths
- Excellent support for pupils' mental health and well-being, creating a nurturing environment where pupils feel understood and happy
- Strong focus on reading with high-quality vocabulary development and support for struggling readers
- Exceptional opportunities for independence and preparation for adulthood, including careers guidance and work experience
- Effective action to reverse poor attendance, with many pupils attending regularly after joining from settings with persistent absence
- High-quality PSHE curriculum covering mental health, relationships and financial independence
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent use of information about what pupils know to adapt lessons and curriculum choices
- Some pupils ready to move forward while others need more foundational support - adaptations not always made effectively
- Recent curriculum changes mean pupils have not yet developed deep understanding of all subjects
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Horse riding, sports, college trips, work experience, free choice Friday activities, online safety education
Lord Gowthorpe's Independent School is a specialist school for pupils aged 11-16 with autism, speech and language needs, and learning difficulties. The school has been rated as Good overall and meets all independent school standards.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
15 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
96%
Near capacity
24 pupils
25 capacity
1 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Dunnington
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Dunnington
Admissions Demand - York
Places available
1,977
Applications
1,865
Got 1st preference
93.7%
Got preferred school
98.7%
Secondary admissions across York (2025/26)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Lord Gowthorpe's Independent School
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