Valence School, Westerham
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
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
32.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, PD - Physical Disability
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
29 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 0%. Maths has remained stable at around 0%. Writing has remained stable at around 0%.
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
101%
Over capacity
129 pupils
128 capacity
1 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Westerham
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Westerham
Admissions Demand - Kent
Places available
19,410
Applications
18,281
Got 1st preference
80.6%
Got preferred school
96.5%
Secondary admissions across Kent (2025/26)
Inspection History(108)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
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.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
Pupil Absence2024/25
15.16075%
Overall absence
60.67416%
Persistent absence
89
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Valence School
Nearby Schools
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