The Divergent School Harborough, Market Harborough

Special
Other independent special school
Mixed
Ages 1116

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Miss Charlotte Smith
Pupils:8 / 25 capacity
LA:Leicestershire
Phone:07808773941
Address:2 Heygate Street, Market Harborough, LE16 7JS
Status:open
Opened:9 September 2024

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 6 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Inspected 10 March 2026View full report
URN:150863
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Harborough, Oadby and Wigston
Urban/Rural:Urban: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

The Divergent School creates a supportive environment where pupils with complex needs genuinely flourish. Teachers know each child well and tailor their teaching to help every pupil make progress. The school goes beyond the classroom, helping pupils develop real-life skills and building their confidence through community activities, ensuring they are prepared for life after school.

Key Strengths

  • Three flexible curriculum pathways designed specifically for pupils with EHC plans and SEND needs
  • Staff know pupils well and plan learning that effectively meets individual special educational needs
  • Strong emphasis on developing independence skills through practical activities like cooking and community involvement
  • Thorough safeguarding culture with up-to-date policies implemented consistently and effectively
  • Well-planned wider activities including community projects like maintaining local allotments

Areas for Improvement

  • New key stage 4 curriculum requires full implementation and monitoring once approved
  • Risk assessments for key stage 4 pupils need to be created and reviewed regularly
  • Staffing levels will need to increase to support additional pupils

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is effective with up-to-date policies, clear procedures focused on pupil welfare, and staff who understand their responsibilities. The school recognises local safeguarding risks and plans to teach pupils how to keep themselves safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Parliament weeks, allotment maintenance, Christmas tree decorating, local park visits, work experience aligned to interests

The Divergent School Harborough is an independent special school seeking to extend its age range to 16 and increase pupil numbers from 8 to 24. The school is likely to meet all relevant independent school standards if the material changes are approved.

At a Glance

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

0.0

Avg class size

0

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Heygate Street (adj)
146m · 2 min walk
Burnmill Road (S Bound)
156m · 3 min walk
Saxon Close (opp)
186m · 3 min walk
Doddridge Road (opp)
223m · 4 min walk
Bowden Lane (opp)
250m · 4 min walk
Can you get into this school?
Enter your postcode to find out

Commute Calculator

Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply

Sign up free to see your commute to this school

What are my chances?

Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.

Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

32%

Available places

8 pupils

25 capacity

17 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Market Harborough

High pressure
New homes approved:764
Projected new pupils:138

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Market Harborough

Admissions Demand - Leicestershire

Low demand0.86x oversubscription

Places available

8,594

Applications

7,352

Got 1st preference

92.0%

Got preferred school

98.4%

Secondary admissions across Leicestershire (2025/26)

Inspection History(3)

10 March 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
4 December 2025
31 July 2024

House Prices

Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost

Sign up free to see house prices near this school

SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

Sign up free to see special needs support at this school

Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

Sign up free to see who goes to this school

Reviews

No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.

Leave a Review

You need to be signed in to leave a review.

Feeder Primary Schools

Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity

Nearby Schools

Do you work at this school?

Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.