Valence School, Westerham
Valence School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Westerham. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Valence School in detail
Valence School in its own words
In its own words: "We are proud to share with you the excellent work we do with children and young people who have physical disabilities and complex medical needs. Our school is unique within the maintained sector in the whole of southern England. We cater for students aged 4 to 19 and have both day and boarding places."
On phones, the school says: "Home » Parents & Carers » Mobile Phone Pouches » Mobile Phone Pouches Creating a More Focused, Connected and Positive School Day At Valence School, we are committed to providing a calm, safe and purposeful learning environment where every student can thrive."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Valence School are Limpsfield Grange School (3.5 miles, Outstanding); West Heath School (4.2 miles, Good); and Moor House School & College (4.4 miles, Outstanding).
Limpsfield Grange SchoolWest Heath SchoolMoor House School & College
What parents say
29 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Valence School (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 83% say their child is happy there and 25% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (25%).
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
31% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 9.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (71%), Asian (7%) and Black (6%).
Almost every pupil at Valence School has an education, health and care plan (129 of 129 in 2026). The most common need among them is a physical disability.
Valence School provides for pupils with other difficulties or disabilities and physical disability.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Valence School.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 49 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Valence School issued 1 suspension, 0.8 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 · 1 year agoThis judgement is from December 2019, 6 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
Early Years
Sixth Form
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Valence School is a calm, welcoming place where pupils with complex physical and medical needs are highly supported to achieve their best. Teachers have high expectations and use personalised approaches to help each child succeed, while the whole school community celebrates diversity and ensures every pupil feels valued and heard. Pupils develop crucial independence and life skills alongside their academic learning.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional pupil behaviour and strong relationships between staff and pupils who feel safe and happy
- Highly ambitious, personalised curriculum carefully matched to each pupil's specific needs and abilities
- Expert teaching that uses precise checks to identify and address gaps in knowledge quickly
- Inclusive school community where all pupils have a real voice through school council and can contribute to decisions
- Specialist support from skilled residential and therapy teams that helps all pupils thrive
Areas for Improvement
- School does not provide impartial careers advice and guidance, meaning some older pupils are not as well prepared for their next steps as they should be
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created a safe, open culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
School shop in local village, house points system, school council recruitment interviews
Valence School is a special school for pupils aged 4-19 with physical disabilities that has maintained good standards since its previous inspection in 2019. The school provides a calm, happy environment where pupils with complex needs achieve very well through highly personalised teaching and support.
At a Glance
31.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Other, Physical
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
29 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 4 nearby schools
Latest from Valence School
Valence School Art Exhibition
10 Jul 2026
☀️ What an absolutely brilliant (and very sunny) Sports Day!
19 Jun 2026
Simmonds 4 Independent Cookery
5 Jun 2026
We Have Some Fantastic News!
19 Mar 2026
World Book Day 2026
6 Mar 2026
Spring Clean. Give Green. Donate to Valence on the Green!
30 Jan 2026
From Valence School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Valence School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Valence School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Valence School is in Kent; for families living there:
Apply to Kent for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 6 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
2 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 Kent is 11 (the median across 711 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
98%
Near capacity
129 pupils
131 places
2 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Westerham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Westerham
Across Kent council
Places available
19,539
Applications
18,644
Got 1st preference
78.9%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Kent council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
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
Valence School provides for pupils with other difficulties or disabilities and physical disability.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
129
Total Pupils
77
Boys
52
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
26
Teachers
5.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,670
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
15.2%
Overall absence
60.7%
Persistent absence
89
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 Valence School
What are GCSE results like at Valence School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Valence School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 5.5. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Valence School's Ofsted rating?
Valence School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Valence School?
No fixed boundary. When Valence School is oversubscribed, Kent allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Valence School?
Valence School has around 129 pupils on roll. 31% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Valence School have specialist SEN provision?
Valence School provides for pupils with other difficulties or disabilities and physical disability.
What is attendance like at Valence School?
15.2% of sessions were missed at Valence School in 2024/25. 60.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Valence School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Valence 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 Valence School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 6 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 2 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 Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Valence School?
Valence School is at Westerham Road, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1QN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)