Rossendale School, Bury
Rossendale School is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 19 in Bury. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Rossendale School in detail
Rossendale School in its own words
In its own words: "Rossendale School provides personalised education in a calm, nurturing environment helping each young person grow in confidence, rediscover their love of learning, and realise their full potential. Our school is made up of a main school site, and a primary , year 7 and 8 provision."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include swimming and Duke of Edinburgh.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Rossendale School are Valley College (2.9 miles, Requires improvement); Tor View School (2.9 miles, Outstanding); Maple House School (3 miles, Good); and Rawtenstall Cribden House Community Special School (3.2 miles, Outstanding).
Valley CollegeTor View SchoolMaple House SchoolRawtenstall Cribden House Community Special School
What parents say
48 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Rossendale School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 77% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (77%).
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Rossendale School has an education, health and care plan (91 of 91 in 2026).
Rossendale School is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Ramsbottom (East Lancashire Railway), 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 violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
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 December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Rossendale School excels at helping pupils with autism and other additional needs feel supported and valued. The school combines academic learning with exceptional personal development, including careers guidance, work experience, and practical life skills. Staff treat pupils with genuine care and sensitivity, creating a calm environment where learning can flourish.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding personal development with an exceptional careers programme and extensive life skills preparation
- Compassionate, well-trained staff who understand pupils' SEND needs and provide high-quality pastoral support
- Well-sequenced curriculum with carefully developed learning pathways tailored to individual pupil needs
- Calm, orderly learning environment where pupils show good behaviour and respect for each other
- Extensive enrichment activities including work experience, university visits, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and educational trips
Areas for Improvement
- Lack of rigorous systems to monitor and evaluate curriculum effectiveness across different subjects
- Insufficient analysis of behaviour and attendance data to identify patterns and take targeted action
- Limited communication with some parents about what their children are learning and how to support them at home
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with thorough checks on premises, emergency procedures, and staff understanding of their responsibilities.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh Awards, work experience, university visits, educational trips (caves for geology), charity events, library reading sessions, budgeting and independent travel lessons
Rossendale School is a small independent special school for pupils aged 7-18 with an Education, Health and Care plan, rated Good overall. The school is particularly strong in personal development and pastoral support, helping pupils re-engage with learning after disruptive educational experiences.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
48 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Rossendale School
Getting There
Bus Stops
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 Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 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
88%
Available places
91 pupils
104 places
13 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Bury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bury
Across Lancashire council
Places available
14,702
Applications
13,782
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
97.2%
All secondary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
91
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Rossendale School is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
91
Total Pupils
67
Boys
24
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Rossendale School
What are GCSE results like at Rossendale School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Rossendale School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Rossendale School's Ofsted rating?
Rossendale School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2024.
Does Rossendale School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in December 2024, Rossendale School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Rossendale School?
Rossendale School has around 91 pupils on roll.
Does Rossendale School have specialist SEN provision?
Rossendale School is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to Rossendale School?
Rossendale 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 Rossendale 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 Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Rossendale School?
Rossendale School is at Bamford Road, Ramsbottom, Bury, Lancashire, BL0 0RT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)