Shaftesbury High School, Harrow
Shaftesbury High School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Harrow. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Shaftesbury High School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Shaftesbury High School are Kingsley High School (0.3 miles, Outstanding); Seva Education Central Harrow (2.1 miles); Colnbrook School (2.3 miles, Outstanding); and Rise College (2.4 miles).
Kingsley High SchoolSeva Education Central HarrowColnbrook SchoolRise College
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Shaftesbury High School (as of September 2025): 77% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 71% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (88%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (71%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 26 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 19% to a further education college.
Who goes there
44.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 49.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (40%), White British (16%) and Black (15%).
Almost every pupil at Shaftesbury High School has an education, health and care plan (165 of 165 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Shaftesbury High School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Headstone Lane Station, about 250 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Headstone Lane, 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 246 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Harrow (374).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Shaftesbury High School issued 44 suspensions, 25.7 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
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
44.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +8
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 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 Shaftesbury High School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Shaftesbury High School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Shaftesbury High School is in Harrow; for families living there:
Apply to Harrow for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 42
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 42 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 34 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 6 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
11 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 Harrow is 37 (the median across 78 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
94%
Near capacity
165 pupils
175 places
10 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Harrow
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Harrow
Across Harrow council
Places available
2,634
Applications
2,840
Got 1st preference
65.6%
Got preferred school
91.4%
All secondary applications across Harrow council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
165
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Shaftesbury High School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
165
Total Pupils
107
Boys
58
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
28
Teachers
5.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,262
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.8%
Overall absence
37.6%
Persistent absence
125
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Shaftesbury High School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Shaftesbury High School
What is Shaftesbury High School's Ofsted rating?
Shaftesbury High School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Shaftesbury High School?
No fixed boundary. When Shaftesbury High School is oversubscribed, Harrow allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Shaftesbury High School?
Shaftesbury High School has around 165 pupils on roll. 44% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Shaftesbury High School have specialist SEN provision?
Shaftesbury High School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Shaftesbury High School?
13.8% of sessions were missed at Shaftesbury High School in 2024/25. 37.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Shaftesbury High School?
Apply through Harrow's coordinated admissions process, naming Shaftesbury High School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Shaftesbury High School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 42 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 34 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 6 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 11 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 Harrow is 37 (the median across 78 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Shaftesbury High School?
Shaftesbury High School is at Headstone Lane, Harrow, HA3 6LE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)