Showing 1-9 of 25 schools
- Alderman Knight School
- Belmont School
- Cotswold Chine School
- St Rose's Special School
- Bettridge School
- Aurora Severnside School
- National Star College
- Belong School Gloucestershire
- Battledown School
- Brook Academy
- Hartmore School
- Paternoster School
- Ruskin Mill College
- The Milestone School
- The Ridge Academy
- The Shrubberies School
- William Morris School
- Peak Academy
- Heart of the Forest Community Special School
- Valley Bridge School
Special Schools in Gloucestershire
There are 25 special schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Gloucestershire. 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 99.
All special schools by areaHow special-school admissions work in Gloucestershire
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 Gloucestershire
Showing 1-25 of 25 schools
- Alderman Knight School
Ashchurch
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Other Difficulty/Disability, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 7 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Belmont School
Warden Hill
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Moderate Learning Difficulty · Ages 4 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Cotswold Chine School
Box
FMS Inspection Score 8.9/10 · Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Specific Learning Difficulty · Ages 7 to 19 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- St Rose's Special School
Stratford Park
FMS Inspection Score 8.1/10 · Physical Disability, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Visual Impairment · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- Bettridge School
Warden Hill
FMS Inspection Score 8.1/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Aurora Severnside School
Berkeley
FMS Inspection Score 7.6/10 · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- National Star College
Ullenwood
FMS Inspection Score 7.6/10 · Multi-Sensory Impairment, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 16 to 99 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- Belong School Gloucestershire
Shepherds Patch
FMS Inspection Score 7.4/10 · Ages 11 to 17 · Co-educational · Day
- Battledown School
Battledown
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Physical Disability, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 2 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Brook Academy
Brockworth
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Hartmore School
Hartpury
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 7 to 18 · Co-educational · Day
- Paternoster School
Cirencester
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Severe Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 2 to 17 · Co-educational · Day
- Ruskin Mill College
Nailsworth
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 16 to 25 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- The Milestone School
Longford
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Specific Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 2 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- The Ridge Academy
Whaddon
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Ages 5 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- The Shrubberies School
Oldends
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- William Morris School
Eastington
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Ages 7 to 19 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- Peak Academy
Stonehouse
FMS Inspection Score 5.9/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Heart of the Forest Community Special School
Speech House
FMS Inspection Score 5.6/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Other Difficulty/Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 4 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Valley Bridge School
Whaddon
FMS Inspection Score 4/10 · Ages 6 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Brookthorpe Hall School
Brookthorpe
Ages 7 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Norton College Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury
Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Skylark Plus
Wanswell
Ages 16 to 25 · Co-educational · Day
- St Martins Centre (St Roses School)
Stratford Park
Ages 18 to 25 · Co-educational · Day & boarding
- Sladewood Academy
Bisley
Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Speech, Language and Communication Needs · Ages 4 to 11 · 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 Gloucestershire?
This page currently lists 25 special schools in Gloucestershire, 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 Gloucestershire?
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 Gloucestershire?
Across Gloucestershire, 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.