Shenstone School, Crayford
Shenstone School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Crayford, part of The Kemnal Academies Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Shenstone School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Shenstone School are Endeavour Academy Bexley (0.2 miles, Good); Woodside Academy (1.2 miles, Good); Aspire Academy (2.1 miles, Good); and Park View Academy (2.5 miles, Good).
Endeavour Academy BexleyWoodside AcademyAspire AcademyPark View Academy
The trust
Shenstone School is one of 45 schools run by The Kemnal Academies Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Shenstone School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).
Who goes there
40.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 22.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Shenstone School has an education, health and care plan (240 of 240 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Shenstone School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Crayford Station, about 790 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Old Road / Perry Street (->w), 160 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Shenstone School issued 18 suspensions, 8.6 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from September 2012, 14 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Shenstone School excels at understanding each child's individual needs and creating personalised learning experiences that help them thrive. Staff are deeply dedicated and skilled, working closely with parents and therapists to support pupils' communication, independence and confidence. The school celebrates every pupil's potential and creates a warm, inclusive atmosphere where children feel happy, safe and motivated to learn.
Key Strengths
- Comprehensive understanding of each pupil's needs with bespoke curriculums matched to individual goals and EHC plans
- Exceptional early years provision providing strong foundation for children's learning and development
- Highly skilled staff including specialists and therapists who deliver consistent, high-quality support
- Strong focus on communication and literacy using signs, symbols and visual resources to help pupils engage
- Excellent behaviour support with staff swiftly de-escalating situations and helping pupils refocus on learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with school leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Musical hydrotherapy sessions, school council, sensory activities, rhymes and songs, aquatic body therapy
Shenstone School is an all-through special school for pupils aged 2-19 with complex needs, rated Outstanding across all areas. The school creates a safe, nurturing environment where staff have high ambitions for every pupil and provide bespoke, ambitious curriculums tailored to individual needs.
At a Glance
40.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
18 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Shenstone School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Shenstone School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Shenstone School is in Bexley; for families living there:
Apply to Bexley for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 52
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 52 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 45 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
9 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 Bexley is 28.5 (the median across 92 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
80%
Available places
240 pupils
300 places
60 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Crayford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Crayford
Across Bexley council
Places available
3,269
Applications
2,992
Got 1st preference
68.1%
Got preferred school
95.3%
All secondary applications across Bexley council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
240
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Shenstone School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
240
Total Pupils
170
Boys
70
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
30
Teachers
8.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,483
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.7%
Overall absence
27.6%
Persistent absence
203
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
Shenstone School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Shenstone School
What are SATs results like at Shenstone School?
Of the pupils at Shenstone School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Shenstone School's Ofsted rating?
Shenstone School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Shenstone School?
No fixed boundary. When Shenstone School is oversubscribed, Bexley allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Shenstone School?
Shenstone School has around 240 pupils on roll. 40% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Shenstone School have specialist SEN provision?
Shenstone School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Shenstone School?
8.7% of sessions were missed at Shenstone School in 2024/25. 27.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Shenstone School?
Apply through Bexley's coordinated admissions process, naming Shenstone 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 Shenstone School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 52 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 45 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 9 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 Bexley is 28.5 (the median across 92 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Shenstone School?
Shenstone School is at 94 Old Road, Crayford, Kent, DA1 4DZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)