The Coppice School, Preston
The Coppice School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Preston. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
The Coppice School in detail
The Coppice School in its own words
In its own words: "The Coppice School is an all age (2-19 years) special school for children and young people with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties, including those with additional complex needs. We are a dedicated staff who work in close partnership with parents, carers and other professionals."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include STEM and film.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Coppice School are Bridgeway School (0.8 miles, Outstanding); Progress School (1.5 miles, Outstanding); The Ribble Autism School (1.7 miles, Good); and Cambian Red Rose School (1.7 miles, Good).
Bridgeway SchoolProgress SchoolThe Ribble Autism SchoolCambian Red Rose School
Where pupils go next
Of the 7 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
42.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (75%) and Asian (13%).
Almost every pupil at The Coppice School has an education, health and care plan (64 of 64 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
The Coppice School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bamber Bridge Rail Station, about 760 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Brown Lane (by), 160 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
The Coppice School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 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: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
This is a warm and caring school that prides itself on providing a family atmosphere for its pupils. Pupils are welcomed into the school as their 'second home'. This helps pupils to settle in well and to be happy at school.
The school has high expectations for its pupils, including for their achievement. All pupils who attend the school have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They receive exceptional support and care from highly trained staff. Staff have a detailed understanding of pupils' needs. Pupils are enthused about the learning opportunities that they receive. They live up to the school's ethos of 'learn, enjoy and achieve'.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has established a detailed and well-structured curriculum which is ambitious. This sets out the essential knowledge and skills to be taught across the school. Teachers adapt learning activities well so that regardless of pupils' different needs, they have the support that they need to learn alongside their classmates. This helps pupils across the school to achieve well.
Teachers' subject knowledge is strong. This helps them to deliver the curriculum effectively. Their careful choice of learning activities enables pupils to become resilient and confident learners. Students in the sixth form follow carefully designed programmes to support their independence both in learning and day-to-day living. This prepares them well for their next steps.
From Ofsted's May 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
42.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Speech and language +7
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from The Coppice School
From The Coppice School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with The Coppice School
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to The Coppice School, with their latest published grades:
- Footprints Child Care Ltd - Day nursery, 0.3 milesOfsted, 26 June 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Busy Bees Day Nursery at Preston Bamber Bridge - Day nursery, 0.4 milesOfsted report card, 13 November 2025: Strong standard in 2 areas, Expected standard in 4 areas; safeguarding standards met
- Dowry House Nursery School - Day nursery, 0.5 milesOfsted, 12 December 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Townley House Independent Nursery School - Day nursery, 0.6 milesOfsted, 13 December 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Playdor Nursery School - Day nursery, 0.8 milesOfsted, 12 February 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Coppice School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Coppice School is in Lancashire; for families living there:
- Lancashire's school travel policy: school transport policies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 5
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, 5 serious and 9 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
94%
Near capacity
64 pupils
68 places
4 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Across Lancashire council
Places available
14,702
Applications
13,782
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
97.2%
All secondary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
64
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Coppice School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
64
Total Pupils
39
Boys
25
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
5.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,063
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.9%
Overall absence
30.2%
Persistent absence
43
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 Coppice School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Coppice School
What are SATs results like at The Coppice School?
Of the pupils at The Coppice School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is The Coppice School's Ofsted rating?
The Coppice School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2024, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Good.
How many pupils go to The Coppice School?
The Coppice School has around 64 pupils on roll. 42% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Coppice School have specialist SEN provision?
The Coppice School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at The Coppice School?
12.9% of sessions were missed at The Coppice School in 2024/25. 30.2% of pupils were persistently absent.
How many road collisions happen near The Coppice School?
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, 5 serious and 9 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Coppice School?
The Coppice School is at Ash Grove, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 6GY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)