The Acorn School, Stroud
The Acorn School is an independent school for pupils aged 6 to 18 in Stroud. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2026, ended in a report card: 1 strong standard, 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Before that it was rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in May 2023.
- Ofsted report card
- 1 area need attention
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
The Acorn School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 22 September 2026 inspection grades The Acorn School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Post-16 provision - Strong standard. "The post-16 provision is a strength of the school."
Achievement - Expected standard. "From their starting points, pupils achieve well across the curriculum."
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Most pupils improve their attendance over time."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school has designed a broad curriculum."
Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders create a culture that values every pupil as an individual."
Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide a broad personal development and wellbeing offer."
Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "In recent years, the school has undergone significant leadership and staffing changes, including a change of proprietor."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "The proprietor should establish effective systems and procedures to ensure that the independent school standards are met consistently"; "Leaders should strengthen their quality assurance systems so that they maintain effective strategic oversight of all aspects of the school's work"; "Leaders should strengthen the development of pupils' early foundational skills, particularly in early reading, so that teaching consistently helps pupils build fluency and accuracy".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to The Acorn School are Beaudesert Park School (0.5 miles), Wycliffe College (4.3 miles) and Hopelands Preparatory School (4.4 miles).
Beaudesert Park SchoolWycliffe CollegeHopelands Preparatory School
Who goes there
In 2026, 25 pupils (28.7%) received SEN support and 2 (2.3%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of The Acorn School.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bus Station, 110 metres away.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 month agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at The Acorn School
Pupils flourish at this welcoming and harmonious school. The ‘Acorn Way' values of community, respect, independence, kindness and honesty underpin all aspects of school life. These shape the school's inclusive culture. They are evident in the way pupils support one another, respect adults and take responsibility for their actions. Warm, trusting relationships between pupils and staff are a key strength of the school. Staff know pupils very well. They create an environment where pupils feel appreciated and understood. As a result, pupils develop a strong sense of belonging. Many describe the school as ‘united'. They value how staff treat them as ‘unique' individuals. Pupils understand what staff expect of them. They behave well and respond positively to the clear routines. This contributes to the smooth running of the school. Fallouts and bullying are rare. Pupils feel safe and know how to look after their own wellbeing. Attendance is improving. Pupils enjoy school and being part of the school community. Pupils study a rich and engaging curriculum. It combines academic, creative and practical learning. Pupils work well together, think critically and take pride in their achievements. Staff adapt learning effectively to help pupils with additional learning needs to succeed alongside their peers. The post-16 provision is a particular strength of the school. Students undertake ambitious research projects and pursue areas of personal interest that prepare them well for further study. Pupils make the most of the many opportunities available to them. Camps, surfing weekends and outdoor education activities build resilience and teamwork. Pupils contribute positively to their community through food bank collections and heritage projects. They develop into purposeful and responsible individuals.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- The proprietor should establish effective systems and procedures to ensure that the independent school standards are met consistently.
- Leaders should strengthen their quality assurance systems so that they maintain effective strategic oversight of all aspects of the school's work.
- Leaders should strengthen the development of pupils' early foundational skills, particularly in early reading, so that teaching consistently helps pupils build fluency and accuracy.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 22 September 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's September 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Acorn School creates a warm, inclusive community where children flourish academically and personally. Pupils receive highly personalized learning that connects to their interests and future goals, with particular excellence in creative and practical subjects. The school balances academic success with developing independence, critical thinking and life skills, preparing children to thrive in their chosen paths.
Key Strengths
- Post-16 provision is exceptional, with highly personalized learning aligned to students' ambitions and career pathways
- Strong achievement in specialist subjects including handwork, art and science with high-quality practical work
- Inclusive culture where pupils with SEND make good progress with tailored support and full curriculum access
- Warm, trusting relationships between staff and pupils creating a calm, purposeful atmosphere
- Broad personal development programme including life skills, community projects and personalized careers guidance
Areas for Improvement
- Leadership and governance systems need strengthening to ensure consistent compliance with independent school standards
- Some standards remain unmet relating to shower provision and annual parent reports
- Need to sustain improvements in pupil attendance for small number of pupils attending less regularly
- Early reading skills require targeted support to help some younger pupils develop greater fluency and expression
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Basketball club, craft club, summer camp in Pembrokeshire, storytelling, drama, presentations, cooking projects, outdoor education activities
The Acorn School is a Steiner education school that provides a broad, personalized curriculum with particular strengths in post-16 provision and specialist subjects. Most areas meet expected standards, though leadership and governance need attention regarding compliance with independent school standards.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby all-through school
Keep up with The Acorn School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 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 Gloucestershire is 5 (the median across 338 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
71%
Available places
87 pupils
123 places
36 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Stroud
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stroud
Across Gloucestershire council
Places available
7,977
Applications
6,517
Got 1st preference
86.8%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Gloucestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
Independent School standard inspection
Met all the independent school standards.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
25
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
31.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
87
Total Pupils
38
Boys
49
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about The Acorn School
What is The Acorn School's Ofsted rating?
The Acorn School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2026, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2023, it was rated Outstanding.
Does The Acorn School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in May 2023, The Acorn School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to The Acorn School?
The Acorn School has around 87 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to The Acorn School?
The Acorn School 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 The Acorn School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 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 Gloucestershire is 5 (the median across 338 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Acorn School?
The Acorn School is at Church Street, Nailsworth, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 0BP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)