Treetops School, Grays
Treetops School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in Grays, part of Treetops Learning Community. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Treetops School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Treetops School are Treetops Free School (0.1 miles, Good); OA - North View (1.8 miles); Pier View Academy (3.5 miles, Good); and Beacon Hill Academy (3.6 miles, Outstanding).
Treetops Free SchoolOA - North ViewPier View AcademyBeacon Hill Academy
The trust
Treetops School is one of 2 schools run by Treetops Learning Community, an academy trust.
What parents say
28 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Treetops School (as of September 2025): 82% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that pupils behave well (86%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 34 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college.
Who goes there
42% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (64%), Black (16%) and Asian (8%).
Almost every pupil at Treetops School has an education, health and care plan (324 of 324 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Treetops School has a SEN unit for autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Grays Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Buxton Road (northbound), 310 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Treetops School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Treetops School issued 22 suspensions, 6.8 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
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 November 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Treetops School excels at helping every pupil achieve their potential regardless of their needs. The school creates a genuinely supportive community where pupils learn to manage emotions, build friendships and develop real-world skills through on-site vocational facilities and community involvement. Sixth-form students are particularly proud of their achievements and confidently talk about leading a 'full life' with the courage to try new things.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional curriculum with different pathways tailored to pupils' individual needs - from communication skills to qualifications for employment
- Strong focus on preparing pupils for adulthood, including vocational skills like painting, decorating and gardening
- Excellent support for communication and language development using a range of strategies and aids
- World-class careers education with workplace experiences and visiting speakers
- Warm, friendly ethos where pupils flourish and many exceed their education, health and care plan targets
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with welfare at the forefront of all decision-making by leaders and governors.
Extracurricular Activities
Skiing trips, television appearances, national performances, extracurricular clubs, leadership opportunities, community gymnasium access, on-site café work, school council projects, science weeks with animal encounters, swimming galas
Treetops School is a special school for pupils aged 5-19 with moderate to severe learning difficulties, autism, and communication needs. The school has maintained its outstanding standards and provides an exceptional all-round educational experience with a warm, supportive ethos.
About
Treetops School is an all-through special school with academy status in Grays, Essex, England. Students are from 5 to 19 with moderate learning difficulties and many are on the autistic spectrum, with speech and language problems.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
42.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
28 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Treetops School
Before and after school care
Treetops School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Thurrock
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Treetops School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Treetops School is in Thurrock; for families living there:
- Thurrock's school travel policy: Home to school travel and transport policy
- How to apply: apply for school travel support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- 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, 0 serious and 6 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
1 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 Thurrock is 12 (the median across 58 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
102%
Over capacity
324 pupils
318 places
6 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Grays
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Grays
Across Thurrock council
Places available
2,395
Applications
2,478
Got 1st preference
74.8%
Got preferred school
92.7%
All secondary applications across Thurrock council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
324
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Treetops School has a SEN unit for autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
324
Total Pupils
226
Boys
98
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
47
Teachers
6.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,787
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.3%
Overall absence
29.3%
Persistent absence
259
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
Treetops School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Treetops School
What are GCSE results like at Treetops School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Treetops School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 4.2. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Treetops School's Ofsted rating?
Treetops School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Treetops School?
No fixed boundary. When Treetops School is oversubscribed, Thurrock allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Treetops School?
Treetops School has around 324 pupils on roll. 42% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Treetops School have specialist SEN provision?
Treetops School has a SEN unit for autism and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Treetops School?
10.3% of sessions were missed at Treetops School in 2024/25. 29.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Treetops School?
Apply through Thurrock's coordinated admissions process, naming Treetops 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.
Does Treetops School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Treetops School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Treetops 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, 0 serious and 6 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 1 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 Thurrock is 12 (the median across 58 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Treetops School?
Treetops School is at Treetops Approach Road, Grays, Essex, RM16 2WU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)