Springside, Manchester

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Springside on 7 areas: 7 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils bloom in their own time because leaders and staff nurture pupils' strengths with skill, determination and patience."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "The school makes clear to parents and carers its expectations for pupils' attendance and behaviour."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "This is a school that has a deep interest in what pupils know, understand and can do."

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that the early years curriculum, classroom, routines and resources are very well thought out."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders are certain that all pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) will blossom in the right environment."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders act on their deeply held beliefs about what education should provide for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have an extensive understanding pupils' needs and think very carefully about what will build pupils' personal skills, emotions and resilience."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure the continued improvement of the school's work, to achieve and sustain exceptional standards of support, teaching and leadership that have a transformational impact on the outcomes and experiences of all pupils".

In its own words: "Springside School opened in September 2007 and is a proud part of Springside with Hamer Learning Community. We cater for learners with complex medical and profound learning needs and difficulties, including autism. We currently teach 153 learners within 14 classes, across Springside's Main Site and our hub at Littleborough Primary School."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are extremely proud of the achievement of all our learner's and staff. Our school motto is to: We encourage all members of our school community to set high standards in whatever they do and aim to achieve these."

The nearest other special schools to Springside are Meadows School (0.4 miles, Good); Great Howarth School (0.6 miles, Good); Whitehall Academy (0.9 miles); and Healey Learning Centre (1.2 miles, Good).

39.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 51.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (41%), Asian (38%) and Black (11%).

Almost every pupil at Springside has an education, health and care plan (152 of 152 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.

Springside provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Rochdale Interchange (Manchester Metrolink), about 1 mile away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Millgate (near), 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Springside stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Springside issued 5 suspensions, 3.3 for every 100 pupils, and 1 permanent exclusion.