The Meadows School, Leek
The Meadows School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Leek, part of Manor Hall Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Meadows School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Meadows School are Springfield School (0.1 miles, Good); Hopedale School (2.6 miles, Outstanding); Horton Lodge Community Special School (3.1 miles, Good); and Cicely Haughton School (4.5 miles, Outstanding).
Springfield SchoolHopedale SchoolHorton Lodge Community Special SchoolCicely Haughton School
The trust
The Meadows School is one of 16 schools run by Manor Hall Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Meadows School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school supports their child's wider development (88%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 21 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 14% to a further education college.
Who goes there
38.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 6.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Meadows School has an education, health and care plan (129 of 129 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
The Meadows School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Cheddleton (Churnet Valley Railway), about 3 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Leek High School (adjacent), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 143 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 Staffordshire (86), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
The Meadows School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from September 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Meadows School excels at supporting pupils with complex special needs to thrive and build confidence. Staff are highly skilled at understanding individual pupils and creating a calm, inclusive environment where children develop strong friendships and learn important life skills. The school's ambitious curriculum and enrichment activities, from residential trips to enterprise projects, prepare pupils brilliantly for their futures.
Key Strengths
- Staff build strong, trusting relationships with pupils and understand their individual needs exceptionally well
- Ambitious curriculum that prepares pupils for independence and adulthood, including practical life skills and careers guidance
- Excellent communication support including signs, symbols and alternative devices that help pupils express themselves
- Calm, inclusive atmosphere where pupils are kind, respectful and make strong friendships
- Well-planned trips and enrichment activities that develop confidence and social skills
Areas for Improvement
- Some subjects lack clearly defined essential knowledge, so pupils' learning doesn't build as sequentially or securely as it could
- Variation in expertise among middle leaders limits their ability to lead subject improvements
- Need to support middle leaders to develop stronger subject knowledge and leadership skills
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and pupils feel safe and happy at school with trusted staff to turn to for support.
Extracurricular Activities
Trips to France, climbing and caving residential trips, school council activities, lunchtime activities, enterprise activities (selling Mother's Day cakes and crafts), careers guidance and work experience
The Meadows School is a special school for pupils with complex SEND where pupils flourish in a welcoming environment with high expectations. The school has maintained its good standards and continues to provide ambitious, individualised learning that prepares pupils well for life beyond school.
At a Glance
38.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Meadows School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Meadows School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Meadows School is in Staffordshire; for families living there:
Apply to Staffordshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
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.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
3 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 Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 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
108%
Over capacity
129 pupils
120 places
9 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Leek
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Leek
Across Staffordshire council
Places available
8,807
Applications
7,681
Got 1st preference
91.9%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across Staffordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
129
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Meadows School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
129
Total Pupils
87
Boys
42
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
8.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,276
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.6%
Overall absence
21.3%
Persistent absence
94
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
Questions parents ask about The Meadows School
What is The Meadows School's Ofsted rating?
The Meadows School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for The Meadows School?
No fixed boundary. When The Meadows School is oversubscribed, Staffordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Meadows School?
The Meadows School has around 129 pupils on roll. 39% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Meadows School have specialist SEN provision?
The Meadows School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at The Meadows School?
8.6% of sessions were missed at The Meadows School in 2024/25. 21.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Meadows School?
Apply through Staffordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming The Meadows 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 Meadows 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. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 3 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 Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Meadows School?
The Meadows School is at Springfield Road, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 6EU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)