Rowden House School, Bromyard
Rowden House School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Bromyard. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2025.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Rowden House School in detail
Rowden House School in its own words
In its own words: "The SENAD Group is an independent operator of special needs schools, transition homes, supported care and community support services for people with a range of learning disabilities and other complex needs. Since 2003 the SENAD Group has operated schools in the East Midlands, West Midlands and Wales and draws students from across the United Kingdom and overseas."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted to welcome you to Rowden House School. We provide individualised education and care programmes for children and young people aged 11 to 19 years, with autism, severe learning disabilities and challenging behaviour."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Rowden House School has an education, health and care plan (21 of 21 in 2026).
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Herefordshire, County of (4).
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year 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 July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Rowden House transforms the educational experience for pupils with severe learning difficulties, many of whom had been out of education for long periods. Staff are highly skilled at recognizing each pupil's potential and providing tailored support that helps them flourish. Parents consistently praise how the school has changed not just their child's life, but that of their whole family.
Key Strengths
- Bespoke curriculums tailored to each pupil's individual needs ensure exceptional progress and achievement
- Highly skilled staff create nurturing, purposeful relationships with pupils, making the school a calm and positive learning environment
- Excellent pastoral support and understanding of pupil behaviour means issues are prevented before they arise
- Strong focus on pupils' mental health, well-being and preparation for adulthood through real work experience opportunities
- Pupils develop independent life skills and learn to work effectively alongside others
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with clear protocols in place that prioritize pupils' interests and well-being.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor activities in woodland, work experience placements at local farms and school kitchen, daily democratic voting for class roles, reading and storytelling sessions
Rowden House School is a special school for pupils with complex learning needs and disabilities. The school has been rated Outstanding across all areas, up from Good at the previous inspection.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Keep up with Rowden House School
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 Herefordshire, County of is 2 (the median across 115 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
44%
Available places
21 pupils
48 places
27 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Bromyard
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bromyard
Across Herefordshire, County of council
Places available
1,920
Applications
1,685
Got 1st preference
91.9%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All secondary applications across Herefordshire, County of council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
Independent School standard inspection
Met all the independent school standards.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
21
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Rowden House School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
21
Total Pupils
16
Boys
5
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Rowden House School
Questions parents ask about Rowden House School
What is Rowden House School's Ofsted rating?
Rowden House School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2025.
Does Rowden House School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in July 2025, Rowden House School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Rowden House School?
Rowden House School has around 21 pupils on roll.
Does Rowden House School have specialist SEN provision?
Rowden House School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Rowden House School?
Rowden House 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 Rowden House 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 Herefordshire, County of is 2 (the median across 115 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Rowden House School?
Rowden House School is at Rowden House, Winslow, Bromyard, HR7 4LS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)