Sutherland House School Braithwell, Doncaster
Sutherland House School Braithwell is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in Doncaster.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Sutherland House School Braithwell in detail
Sutherland House School Braithwell in its own words
In its own words: "Autism East Midlands is opening a new independent school within the village of Braithwell, Doncaster. We're an independent special school for autistic students aged between 5 and 19 years, situated within commutable distance of Doncaster, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Rotherham and Sheffield."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Sutherland House School Braithwell are Hilltop School (1.5 miles, Good); Abbeywood School (2.1 miles, Good, selective); Pennine View School (3 miles, Good); and The Willows School (4.2 miles).
Hilltop SchoolAbbeywood SchoolPennine View SchoolThe Willows School
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Sutherland House School Braithwell.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Holywell Lane/Holywell Crescent (adjacent), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 17 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Doncaster (131).
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 11 months agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school is designed specifically for pupils with autism and special educational needs, with every child supported by experienced staff trained in autism awareness. The curriculum is broad and personalised to each pupil's needs, with plans for accredited qualifications including GCSEs and functional skills. The school places strong emphasis on personal development, community links and preparing older pupils for college, work or supported living.
Key Strengths
- Well-planned, broad curriculum covering English, mathematics, science, art, music, physical education and humanities, tailored to individual pupil needs
- Comprehensive safeguarding policies and procedures in place with designated safeguarding lead properly trained
- Strong focus on personal development through PSHE curriculum, student council, and community engagement
- High adult-to-pupil ratios with qualified teachers leading classes supported by trained teaching assistants
- Detailed staff induction and ongoing professional development programme including autism awareness and communication training
Areas for Improvement
- Some areas of the premises (such as garage) not yet fully refurbished and prepared for pupil access
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - the school has a comprehensive safeguarding policy updated to current statutory guidance, a properly trained designated safeguarding lead, and all staff will receive appropriate induction training including indicators of harm.
Extracurricular Activities
Student council, visits to local farms and churches, community projects, 'sing and sign' events, swimming, educational visits, work experience placements
Sutherland House School Braithwell is a new independent school for pupils with autism and special educational needs, located in a refurbished rectory in Doncaster. The school is likely to meet all independent school standards when it opens.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Sutherland House School Braithwell
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 Doncaster is 10 (the median across 143 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 - Doncaster
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Doncaster
Across Doncaster council
Places available
3,913
Applications
3,506
Got 1st preference
89.9%
Got preferred school
97.4%
All secondary applications across Doncaster council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
-%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Sutherland House School Braithwell is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
0
Total Pupils
0
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Sutherland House School Braithwell
Does Sutherland House School Braithwell have specialist SEN provision?
Sutherland House School Braithwell is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Sutherland House School Braithwell?
Sutherland House School Braithwell is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Sutherland House School Braithwell?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Doncaster is 10 (the median across 143 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Sutherland House School Braithwell?
Sutherland House School Braithwell is at The Old Rectory, Holywell Lane, Braithwell, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, S66 7AF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)