Sandwell Learning Centre, Nr Bampton
Sandwell Learning Centre is a special school for pupils aged 8 to 19 in Nr Bampton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Sandwell Learning Centre in detail
Sandwell Learning Centre in its own words
The school runs after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Sandwell Learning Centre has an education, health and care plan (13 of 13 in 2026).
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Sandwell Learning Centre.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 11 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Oxfordshire (52).
Sources: 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
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 February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Sandwell Learning Centre excels at helping pupils with significant educational gaps and emotional needs build confidence and skills. Staff create a supportive environment where pupils develop strong relationships, learn to manage their emotions, and discover ambition for their futures through exciting careers education and work experience opportunities. The school combines academic learning with crucial social development, preparing young people for independent adult life.
Key Strengths
- Warm, trusting relationships between staff and pupils help students manage emotions and build secure friendships
- Broad curriculum with particular strength in careers education, work experience, and memorable trips that inspire pupils about their futures
- Well-trained staff quickly identify reading difficulties and provide targeted support to help pupils access the wider curriculum
- Strong focus on social, emotional and personal development with integrated support from clinical team
- Effective behaviour management with patient, understanding staff who help pupils make good choices
Areas for Improvement
- Lesson activities are not always well-designed to build on pupils' prior knowledge, sometimes making tasks difficult for pupils to access successfully
- Teachers need greater expertise in adapting the curriculum so learning more consistently builds on what pupils already know
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with strong systems in place and staff receiving extensive training on safeguarding and behaviour management.
Extracurricular Activities
Work experience, career exploration trips including construction work and music production, school council, leadership roles
Sandwell Learning Centre is an independent special school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, rated Good overall. The school provides a broad, ambitious curriculum with a strong focus on developing social skills and preparing pupils for adult life.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Keep up with Sandwell Learning Centre
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 Oxfordshire is 5 (the median across 369 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
81%
Available places
13 pupils
16 places
3 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Nr Bampton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Nr Bampton
Across Oxfordshire council
Places available
7,654
Applications
6,814
Got 1st preference
85.4%
Got preferred school
96.3%
All secondary applications across Oxfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Sandwell Learning Centre 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
13
Total Pupils
13
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Sandwell Learning Centre
What is Sandwell Learning Centre's Ofsted rating?
Sandwell Learning Centre was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2025.
Does Sandwell Learning Centre meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in February 2025, Sandwell Learning Centre met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Sandwell Learning Centre?
Sandwell Learning Centre has around 13 pupils on roll.
Does Sandwell Learning Centre have specialist SEN provision?
Sandwell Learning Centre is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Sandwell Learning Centre?
Sandwell Learning Centre 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 Sandwell Learning Centre?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Oxfordshire is 5 (the median across 369 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Sandwell Learning Centre?
Sandwell Learning Centre is at Sandwell Learning Centre, Main Road, Nr Bampton, OX18 2PY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)