Mary Hare School, Newbury
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Mary Hare School transforms pupils' lives by creating an inclusive, nurturing environment where deaf pupils with hearing impairments feel they truly belong. Staff are highly trained in therapeutic approaches and behaviour management, allowing pupils to thrive academically and personally. The school offers ambitious, personalised pathways from primary through sixth form, with excellent support for reading, vocabulary development, and career preparation.
Key Strengths
- Excellent behaviour management and conduct throughout the school with rare disruption to learning
- Strong focus on vocabulary development and reading support, helping pupils become confident readers
- Personalised curriculum pathways in secondary and sixth form tailored to each pupil's strengths and aspirations
- Highly trained staff with therapeutic approach that meets pupils' individual needs effectively
- Comprehensive careers guidance and work-based experiences from Year 7 onwards
Areas for Improvement
- Knowledge sequencing in a small number of foundation subjects needs clarification so teachers can precisely identify and address pupils' learning gaps
- Teachers in some non-core subjects lack clear understanding of what pupils need to know and when
- Checks on pupils' understanding in these areas are not as precise as they could be
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Leadership opportunities (house captains, prefects, mentors, school council), work-based experiences, BTEC and technical pathways (animal care, plumbing, construction, digital media), weekly topical discussions in form time, school and local community events
Mary Hare School is a special school for deaf pupils with hearing impairments, serving ages 4-19. The school has maintained good standards and provides an ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum with strong support for pupils' individual needs.
At a Glance
23.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
HI - Hearing Impairment
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
71 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
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
61%
Available places
146 pupils
240 capacity
94 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Newbury
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Newbury
Admissions Demand - West Berkshire
Places available
2,143
Applications
1,749
Got 1st preference
88.3%
Got preferred school
97.4%
Secondary admissions across West Berkshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(10)
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.
Pupil Absence2024/25
14.59832%
Overall absence
47.5%
Persistent absence
40
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Mary Hare School
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