The Ashley School, Lowestoft
The Ashley School is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 16 in Lowestoft. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Ashley School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Ashley School are Ness Point School (0.9 miles, Good); Warren School (2.5 miles, Inadequate); and Sunrise Academy (3.5 miles).
Where pupils go next
Of the 21 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 95% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 95% to a further education college.
Who goes there
56.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Ashley School has an education, health and care plan (203 of 203 in 2026). The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.
The Ashley School has a resourced provision for moderate learning difficulties: 192 places, 205 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Lowestoft Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ashley Downs (adjacent), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 272 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Ashley School issued 17 suspensions, 9 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from April 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its April 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
56.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby schools
Keep up with The Ashley School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Ashley School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Ashley School is in Suffolk; for families living there:
Apply to Suffolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 17
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 14 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 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 Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 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
106%
Over capacity
203 pupils
192 places
11 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Lowestoft
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Lowestoft
Across Suffolk council
Places available
8,475
Applications
7,204
Got 1st preference
92.7%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All secondary applications across Suffolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
203
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Ashley School has a resourced provision for moderate learning difficulties: 192 places, 205 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
203
Total Pupils
117
Boys
86
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
32
Teachers
6.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,410
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.2%
Overall absence
33.1%
Persistent absence
172
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
The Ashley School
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Ashley School
What are GCSE results like at The Ashley School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at The Ashley School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.5. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is The Ashley School's Ofsted rating?
The Ashley School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The Ashley School?
No fixed boundary. When The Ashley School is oversubscribed, Suffolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Ashley School?
The Ashley School has around 203 pupils on roll. 57% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Ashley School have specialist SEN provision?
The Ashley School has a resourced provision for moderate learning difficulties: 192 places, 205 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at The Ashley School?
11.2% of sessions were missed at The Ashley School in 2024/25. 33.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Ashley School?
Apply through Suffolk's coordinated admissions process, naming The Ashley 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 The Ashley School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 14 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 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 Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Ashley School?
The Ashley School is at Ashley Downs, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 4EU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)