Parkwood Hall Academy Trust, Swanley
Parkwood Hall Academy Trust is a special school for pupils aged 8 to 19 in Swanley. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Parkwood Hall Academy Trust in detail
Parkwood Hall Academy Trust in its own words
In its own words: "We believe that every child at Parkwood Hall has the right to learning opportunities which mean they can become the best they can be. We are a learning community together with our pupils, families, staff and local community partners where everyone can contribute, and all are heard and valued equally."
From the headteacher's welcome: "It is my privilege to welcome you to Parkwood Hall Cooperative Academy. We are a specialist day school for children and young people aged 8-19 who have moderate to severe learning difficulties and autism. Many of our pupils have additional needs including ADHD, Downs Syndrome and language difficulties."
Coming up: an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 4pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Kensington and Chelsea
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Parkwood Hall Academy Trust are SupaJam Education In Music and Media (1.1 miles, Good); The Annex School House (1.5 miles, Good); Woodview (3.1 miles, Good); and Riverside School (3.4 miles, Outstanding).
SupaJam Education In Music and MediaThe Annex School HouseWoodviewRiverside School
What parents say
19 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Parkwood Hall Academy Trust (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 95% say their child is happy there and 33% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (95%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (33%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 17 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
45.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 8.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (57%), Black (20%) and Asian (7%).
Almost every pupil at Parkwood Hall Academy Trust has an education, health and care plan (136 of 136 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Parkwood Hall Academy Trust has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties: 120 places, 120 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Swanley Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 77 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kensington and Chelsea (1593).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Parkwood Hall Academy Trust issued 6 suspensions, 4.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
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 · 1 year agoThis judgement is from November 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Parkwood Hall creates a welcoming, calm environment where pupils thrive and behave exceptionally well. Staff know pupils intimately and provide high-quality therapeutic support alongside a broad curriculum that builds important life skills. The school excellently prepares young people for independence through practical learning like cooking and managing money, while supporting those ready to read to become confident, fluent readers.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional behaviour and attitudes - pupils manage their emotions well and support each other in a calm, purposeful atmosphere
- Strong therapeutic care and high-quality support tailored to individual needs through EHC plans
- Expert teaching of phonics and reading skills for pupils ready to learn, with staff showing high expectations
- Excellent preparation for independent adulthood including cooking, money management, and community engagement
- Effective safeguarding arrangements with consistent routines and clear expectations
Areas for Improvement
- Reading and communication strategy lacks structure for pupils at the earliest stages - teaching can be incidental rather than ambitious
- Teaching sometimes misses opportunities for pupils to learn from mistakes and think deeply about their learning
- Careers programme is not yet fully developed, limiting pupils' knowledge of diverse career pathways and work options
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with consistent routines helping pupils feel safe and staff treating pupils with dignity and respect.
Extracurricular Activities
Community trips to practice road safety, supermarket visits to develop social communication and money skills, cooking healthy food
Parkwood Hall Co-Operative Academy is a special school supporting pupils aged 8 to 19 with autism, learning difficulties, and associated needs. The school maintains a Good overall rating with Outstanding behaviour and attitudes.
At a Glance
45.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: SpLD, Speech and language, Autism +2
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
19 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)
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Parkwood Hall Academy Trust
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Parkwood Hall Academy Trust from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Parkwood Hall Academy Trust is in Kensington and Chelsea; for families living there:
Apply to Kensington and Chelsea for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 Kensington and Chelsea is 204.5 (the median across 74 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
113%
Over capacity
136 pupils
120 places
16 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Swanley
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Swanley
Across Kensington and Chelsea council
Places available
1,110
Applications
602
Got 1st preference
66.8%
Got preferred school
92.7%
All secondary applications across Kensington and Chelsea council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
136
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Parkwood Hall Academy Trust has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties: 120 places, 120 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
136
Total Pupils
100
Boys
36
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
26
Teachers
5.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,013
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.2%
Overall absence
27.1%
Persistent absence
96
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
Questions parents ask about Parkwood Hall Academy Trust
What are SATs results like at Parkwood Hall Academy Trust?
Of the pupils at Parkwood Hall Academy Trust who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Parkwood Hall Academy Trust's Ofsted rating?
Parkwood Hall Academy Trust's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Parkwood Hall Academy Trust?
No fixed boundary. When Parkwood Hall Academy Trust is oversubscribed, Kensington and Chelsea allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Parkwood Hall Academy Trust?
Parkwood Hall Academy Trust has around 136 pupils on roll. 46% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Parkwood Hall Academy Trust have specialist SEN provision?
Parkwood Hall Academy Trust has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties: 120 places, 120 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Parkwood Hall Academy Trust?
8.2% of sessions were missed at Parkwood Hall Academy Trust in 2024/25. 27.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Parkwood Hall Academy Trust?
Apply through Kensington and Chelsea's coordinated admissions process, naming Parkwood Hall Academy Trust 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 Parkwood Hall Academy Trust?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Kensington and Chelsea is 204.5 (the median across 74 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Parkwood Hall Academy Trust?
Parkwood Hall Academy Trust is at Beechenlea Lane, Swanley, Kent, BR8 8DR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)