Rowhill School, Longfield

Ofsted's report card from its 13 January 2026 inspection grades Rowhill School on 6 areas: 2 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders' inclusive vision underpins their work with pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school works positively to promote pupils' personal development and welfare."

Achievement - Needs attention. "A significant minority of pupils do not make as much progress as they could, due to the inconsistencies in the quality of teaching across the school."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Pupils' behaviour is not managed consistently across the school."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "There are inconsistencies in the quality of the curriculum and teaching across the school."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "The school is not improving as quickly as it could."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that high expectations for behaviour are understood by all staff and that these expectations are consistently applied across the school"; "Leaders should ensure that effective teaching is embedded across the school so that all pupils progress well across the curriculum"; "Leaders and governors should develop a robust understanding of their roles and responsibilities, ensuring that precise and appropriate actions drive swift improvements across all areas of the school's work"; "Leaders should rigorously monitor the progress of all pupils and analyse data to ensure their strategies make a sustained difference to pupils' opportunities and experiences".

In its own words: "Approximately two thirds of pupils are of secondary school age; All pupils have a statement of special educational needs that is primarily for their behavioural, social and emotional difficulties. However, a significant number of pupils also have additional needs associated with, for instance, their autism or speech and language difficulties."

The school runs after-school care.

The nearest other special schools to Rowhill School are Leigh Academy Milestone (1.6 miles, Outstanding); Helen Allison School (2.1 miles, Good); Ifield School (3 miles, Outstanding); and Birtley House Independent School (3.8 miles, Requires improvement).

23 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Rowhill School (as of April 2026): 83% would recommend the school, 70% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (83%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

Of the 29 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 52% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 35% to a further education college.

62.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (89%) and Mixed (7%).

Almost every pupil at Rowhill School has an education, health and care plan (163 of 163 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.

Rowhill School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Longfield Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Langafel School (adjacent), 10 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Rowhill School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 49 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).

In 2024/25, Rowhill School issued 113 suspensions, 70.2 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.