Stony Dean School, Amersham
Stony Dean School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Amersham. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Stony Dean School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Stony Dean School are Heritage House School (3 miles, Good); Alfriston School (4.2 miles, Outstanding); and Felden Hall School (5.8 miles).
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Stony Dean School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 71% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (71%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 32 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 97% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 13% to a further education college.
Who goes there
41.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 9.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (70%), Asian (15%) and Mixed (8%).
Almost every pupil at Stony Dean School has an education, health and care plan (215 of 215 in 2026). The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Stony Dean School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Amersham Underground Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Village Hall (opposite), 190 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Stony Dean School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 83 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Buckinghamshire (44), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Stony Dean School issued 48 suspensions, 22.5 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Stony Dean creates an inspirational learning environment where pupils with complex needs flourish and develop confidence. Staff are exceptionally skilled at tailoring teaching to individual pupils, and the school weaves personal development and life skills throughout everything it does. Pupils are proud of their achievements, behave exceptionally well, and leave well-prepared for adulthood with aspirational pathways into college and training.
Key Strengths
- Highly skilled staff who expertly adapt lessons to support pupils' complex and varied needs
- Strong reading curriculum with effective support helping pupils catch up and access texts across the curriculum
- Comprehensive careers education and guidance preparing pupils for adulthood and next steps
- Exceptional behaviour and calm, purposeful atmosphere throughout the school
- Personalised curriculum tailored to each pupil's needs with focus on life skills and independence
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Work-related activities, vocational subjects, accredited awards in academic and practical subjects, reading activities including older pupils reading to younger pupils
Stony Dean School is an inspirational special school where all pupils have SEND and face considerable barriers to learning. Staff are highly skilled in supporting pupils to flourish, with pupils displaying exceptionally positive attitudes and behaviour.
At a Glance
41.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, MLD
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 3 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Stony Dean School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Stony Dean School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Stony Dean School is in Buckinghamshire; for families living there:
- Buckinghamshire's school travel policy: Home to School Transport Policy (0 to 25 Year Olds)
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 10 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
4 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 Buckinghamshire is 4 (the median across 274 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
Area Demand Pressure - Amersham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Amersham
Across Buckinghamshire council
Places available
6,847
Applications
6,535
Got 1st preference
76.7%
Got preferred school
93.9%
All secondary applications across Buckinghamshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
215
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Stony Dean School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
215
Total Pupils
211
Boys
4
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
34
Teachers
6.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,288
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.3%
Overall absence
31.6%
Persistent absence
158
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
Questions parents ask about Stony Dean School
What are GCSE results like at Stony Dean School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Stony Dean School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 3.5. 3% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Stony Dean School's Ofsted rating?
Stony Dean School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Stony Dean School?
No fixed boundary. When Stony Dean School is oversubscribed, Buckinghamshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Stony Dean School?
Stony Dean School has around 215 pupils on roll. 41% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Stony Dean School have specialist SEN provision?
Stony Dean School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Stony Dean School?
11.3% of sessions were missed at Stony Dean School in 2024/25. 31.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Stony Dean School?
Apply through Buckinghamshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Stony Dean 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 Stony Dean School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 10 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 4 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 Buckinghamshire is 4 (the median across 274 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Stony Dean School?
Stony Dean School is at Orchard End Avenue, Pineapple Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 9JW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)