Valley School, Stockport
Valley School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Stockport. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2011. That was 15 years ago, so the rating may not reflect the school today.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2011)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Valley School in detail
Valley School in its own words
In its own words: "The children are entitled to high standards of teaching and learning across each child’s curriculum. This includes cognition and learning, communication and interaction, sensory and physical development as well as social, emotional and mental health which incorporates wellbeing. Encouraging and supporting the development of relevant independence and problem-solving runs through all of these areas."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Valley School are Willow House School (1.4 miles, Requires improvement); Royal School, Manchester (1.5 miles, Outstanding); Royal College Manchester (Seashell Trust) (1.5 miles, Outstanding); and Oakgrove School (1.8 miles).
Willow House SchoolRoyal School, ManchesterRoyal College Manchester (Seashell Trust)Oakgrove School
Who goes there
53.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 12.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (68%), Asian (16%) and Mixed (9%).
Almost every pupil at Valley School has an education, health and care plan (56 of 56 in 2026). The most common need among them is a profound and multiple learning difficulty.
Valley School provides for pupils with autism, physical disability and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bramhall Rail Station, about 1190 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Acre Lane (near), 340 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Valley 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
Valley School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: 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 · 4 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its February 2011 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
53.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Autism, Physical, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Valley School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Valley School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Valley School is in Stockport; for families living there:
Apply to Stockport for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Stockport is 8 (the median across 135 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
106%
Over capacity
56 pupils
53 places
3 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Stockport
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stockport
Across Stockport council
Places available
3,325
Applications
3,368
Got 1st preference
79.9%
Got preferred school
94.2%
All secondary applications across Stockport council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
56
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Valley School provides for pupils with autism, physical disability and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
56
Total Pupils
37
Boys
19
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
5.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,295
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.2%
Overall absence
29.2%
Persistent absence
48
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about Valley School
What are SATs results like at Valley School?
Of the pupils at Valley School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Valley School's Ofsted rating?
Valley School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2011, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Valley School?
No fixed boundary. When Valley School is oversubscribed, Stockport allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Valley School?
Valley School has around 56 pupils on roll. 54% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Valley School have specialist SEN provision?
Valley School provides for pupils with autism, physical disability and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Valley School?
10.2% of sessions were missed at Valley School in 2024/25. 29.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Valley School?
Apply through Stockport's coordinated admissions process, naming Valley 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 Valley School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Stockport is 8 (the median across 135 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Valley School?
Valley School is at Whitehaven Road, Bramhall, Stockport, Cheshire, SK7 1EN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)