Showing 1-9 of 17 schools
- Stony Dean School
- Furze Down School
- Chiltern Way Academy
- Heritage House School
- Stocklake Park Community School
- Booker Park Community School
- Chiltern Wood School
- Pebble Brook School
- Westfield School
- Alfriston School
- Benjamin College
- Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School
- Macintyre School
- Progress Schools - Buckinghamshire
- Red Kite School
- The Pace Centre
- Unity College
Special Schools in Buckinghamshire
There are 17 special schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Buckinghamshire. Together they support a range of needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty. Schools listed here span ages 2 to 19.
All special schools by areaHow special-school admissions work in Buckinghamshire
Special-school places are allocated through the EHCP process and the local authority, not through academic selection or the standard admissions round. That is why this page presents provision and inspection quality rather than a league-table position.
It starts with an EHCP
Most special-school places require an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The plan sets out a child’s needs and the support and provision the local authority must arrange.
You express a preference
During the EHCP process you can name the special school you would like your child to attend. The local authority must consider your preference and consult the schools involved.
The local authority names the school
Unlike mainstream admissions, you do not apply directly to the school. The local authority names the agreed school in Section I of the EHCP, and that named school then has a duty to admit your child.
SENDIASS can help
Your local SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) offers free, impartial guidance on EHCPs, expressing a preference, and what to do if you disagree with a decision.
Special Schools in Buckinghamshire
Showing 1-17 of 17 schools
- Stony Dean School
Little Chalfont
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 11 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- Furze Down School
Winslow
FMS Inspection Score 9.5/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 4 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Chiltern Way Academy
Wendover
FMS Inspection Score 9/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 4 to 19 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- Heritage House School
Chesham
FMS Inspection Score 8.9/10 · Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Stocklake Park Community School
Stocklake
FMS Inspection Score 7.7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Specific Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Booker Park Community School
Quarrendon
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 3 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Chiltern Wood School
Terriers
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 3 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Pebble Brook School
Quarrendon
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Specific Learning Difficulty · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Westfield School
Bourne End
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 4 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Alfriston School
Knotty Green
FMS Inspection Score 5.1/10 · Moderate Learning Difficulty · Ages 11 to 18 · Girls · Day & boarding
- Benjamin College
Fairford Leys
Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 12 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School
Dorney
Ages 8 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- Macintyre School
Wingrave
Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 10 to 19 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- Progress Schools - Buckinghamshire
Cressex
Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 13 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Red Kite School
Princes Risborough
Ages 11 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- The Pace Centre
Bierton
Moderate Learning Difficulty, Physical Disability · Ages 3 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Unity College
West Wycombe
Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
Frequently asked questions
What is a special school?
A special school educates children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who need more support than a mainstream school can usually provide. Most pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and schools are organised around specific types of need, such as autism, social and emotional needs, or severe and complex learning difficulties.
How many special schools are in Buckinghamshire?
This page currently lists 17 special schools in Buckinghamshire, ordered by inspection quality. Use the provision-type filter to narrow the list to the needs that matter most for your child.
How do I apply for a special school place in Buckinghamshire?
Special school places are arranged through the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process, not through the normal school-admissions round. You name your preferred school in the EHCP, and the local authority decides which school to name in Section I after consulting the schools. Your local SENDIASS service offers free, impartial advice on expressing a preference and on the EHCP timeline.
What SEN types are supported in Buckinghamshire?
Across Buckinghamshire, provision covers needs such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs and Moderate Learning Difficulty.
Are special schools inspected by Ofsted?
Yes. State-funded special schools are inspected by Ofsted on the same framework as mainstream schools, and independent special schools are inspected by Ofsted or an approved inspectorate. We translate the latest inspection into an FMS Inspection Score so you can compare schools on a single consistent scale.
Do special schools follow the national curriculum and offer GCSEs?
Special schools follow a broad and balanced curriculum, adapted to each pupil. Many enter pupils for GCSEs, Functional Skills, and vocational qualifications where appropriate, while others focus on communication, independence, and life skills. The right mix depends on the school and the needs of its pupils.
How are special schools funded?
State special school places are funded by local authorities through the high-needs block, with additional top-up funding attached to each pupil with an EHCP. Independent and non-maintained special schools may be funded by the local authority where the EHCP names them, or privately by families.