The Beacon College, Hereford
The Beacon College is a special school for pupils aged 16 to 19 in Hereford, part of Accordia Academies Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2024.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Beacon College in detail
The Beacon College in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "The Beacon College is a special place where there is a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, which you will experience as soon as you enter the college, because one of our fundamental aims is to ensure we provide a calm, supportive and safe environment for everyone."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include dance, drama, Lego, gardening, eco club, Duke of Edinburgh and cheerleading.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Beacon College are Royal National College for the Blind (0.5 miles, Good); Barrs Court School (0.5 miles, Outstanding); Pathway Schools Limited (1.4 miles); and The Brookfield School (1.4 miles).
Royal National College for the BlindBarrs Court SchoolPathway Schools LimitedThe Brookfield School
The trust
The Beacon College is one of 3 schools run by Accordia Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
30.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 2.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Beacon College has an education, health and care plan (39 of 39 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hereford Rail Station, about 910 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Broadlands Lane (nw-bound), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 236 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 Herefordshire, County of (4), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
The Beacon College recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: 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 agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its April 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
30.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Beacon College
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Beacon College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Beacon College is in Herefordshire, County of; for families living there:
- Herefordshire, County of's school travel policy: School transport policy
- How to apply: Apply for school transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 12 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
5 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 Herefordshire, County of is 2 (the median across 115 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
65%
Available places
39 pupils
60 places
21 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Hereford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hereford
Across Herefordshire, County of council
Places available
1,920
Applications
1,685
Got 1st preference
91.9%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All secondary applications across Herefordshire, County of council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
39
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
39
Total Pupils
23
Boys
16
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
4.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£43,735
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about The Beacon College
What is The Beacon College's Ofsted rating?
The Beacon College was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2024.
What is the catchment area for The Beacon College?
No fixed boundary. When The Beacon College is oversubscribed, Herefordshire, County of allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Beacon College?
The Beacon College has around 39 pupils on roll. 31% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to The Beacon College?
Apply through Herefordshire, County of's coordinated admissions process, naming The Beacon College 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 Beacon College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 12 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 5 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 Herefordshire, County of is 2 (the median across 115 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Beacon College?
The Beacon College is at Eastnor Drive, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR1 1NZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)