Shaftesbury High School, Harrow
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Shaftesbury creates an exceptional learning environment where pupils with complex needs thrive. The school combines high academic expectations with personalised support and therapeutic provision, while offering rich enrichment experiences like leadership opportunities, fundraising events and work experience. Staff understand each pupil's unique needs and use a carefully tailored approach that helps pupils develop confidence, independence and a strong sense of community.
Key Strengths
- Exemplary behaviour and conduct - pupils are kind, considerate and create a calm, respectful learning environment
- Exceptional personal development provision with rich community experiences including visits to local shops, parks, travel training and work experience
- Well-structured, personalised curriculum tailored to individual pupil needs using targets from education, health and care plans
- Expert phonics and early reading teaching that supports pupils from early language skills through to entry-level accreditations
- Strong leadership and staff development - governors and leaders have taken robust action to strengthen the school with high-quality training for staff
Areas for Improvement
- In a few wider curriculum subjects, aspects of curriculum design are not fully embedded, which can affect how well pupils develop secure understanding in these areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Travel training, work experience, community engagement, fundraising events, school leadership opportunities (leading tours, speaking in assemblies), enrichment activities, Coffee on the Quad enterprise activity
Shaftesbury High School is a warm and welcoming special school where pupils feel safe and well supported with high expectations for behaviour and academic success. The school has made significant improvements since its last inspection, with exemplary pupil behaviour and exceptional provision for personal development.
At a Glance
43.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, VI - Visual Impairment, OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, HI - Hearing Impairment
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
94%
Near capacity
165 pupils
175 capacity
10 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Harrow
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Harrow
Admissions Demand - Harrow
Places available
2,634
Applications
2,824
Got 1st preference
65.7%
Got preferred school
91.8%
Secondary admissions across Harrow (2025/26)
Inspection History(8)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.80029%
Overall absence
37.6%
Persistent absence
125
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Shaftesbury High School
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School and Nursery
Cedars Manor School
Pinner Park Primary School
Hujjat Primary School
Grimsdyke School
Weald Rise Primary School
Marlborough Primary School
Belmont School
St John Fisher Catholic Primary School
Reddiford School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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