Ofsted: Urgent improvement accessibility_new Special School (SEND)

Dee Banks School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

person Mrs Joanne Dyson (Headteacher)

location_onChester, CH3 5UX

phone 01244667800

verified

Ofsted

Urgent improvement

Inspected 2026

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Students

117

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Age Range

2-19

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Dee Banks School is a Community special school primary school in Chester, serving ages 2-19. Assessed as needing Urgent Improvement on its latest Ofsted Report Card.

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School Summary

Dee Banks School is a special school in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, admitting pupils aged 2-19. The school has approximately 141 pupils on roll, of whom 48% are eligible for free school meals.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2026. The school's current overall rating is Urgent improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Urgent improvement, behaviour and attitudes Urgent improvement, personal development Expected standard, and leadership and management Urgent improvement.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 5.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Specialist Provision Assessment Context

Because Dee Banks School is a specialist or alternative provision setting, pupils often follow tailored curricula rather than standard national GCSE or SAT benchmarks. National attainment figures below may be suppressed or reflect small cohorts.

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2026

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)-%

Apprenticeships-%

Employment-%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

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Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 58%England 61%

Reading0% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 69% · Eng 72%

Maths0% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 57%England 60%

Reading0% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 70% · Eng 71%

Maths0% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-10.8

Read

LA 0.4

-14.9 to -6.7

-10.0

Write

LA 0.1

-14.0 to -6.1

-10.7

Maths

LA -0.4

-14.6 to -6.8

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 63%England 65%

Reading0% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths0% LA 76% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.6

Read

LA 0.2

-7.5 to 2.4

-2.6

Write

LA -0.7

-7.1 to 2.0

-2.3

Maths

LA -0.4

-6.6 to 2.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 62%

Reading0% LA 77%

Writing0% LA 73%

Maths0% LA 74%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-4.7

Read

LA 0.4

-8.2 to -1.2

-5.1

Write

LA -1.1

-8.5 to -1.7

-5.2

Maths

LA -0.3

-8.4 to -2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

23 June 2026

Inspection Report

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15 March 2022

Inspection Report

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15 November 2016

Inspection Report

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18 October 2011

Inspection Report

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03 March 2009

Inspection Report

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19 October 2005

Inspection Report

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29 January 2001

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2026-06-23

S5 Inspection REIF Report Card

Report Card

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Why no single overall grade?

From autumn 2024 / 2025, Ofsted replaced single-word headline grades (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate) with individual area judgements on a Report Card.

Curriculum & Teaching

Urgent improvement

Achievement

Urgent improvement

Attendance & Behaviour

Urgent improvement

Personal Development

Expected standard

Inclusion

Urgent improvement

Leadership & Governance

Urgent improvement

Early Years

Urgent improvement

Post-16 Provision

Needs attention

verified_user Safeguarding: Not Met

2016-11-15

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met Latest Ungraded: School remains Good

2011-10-18

None Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 139 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	139	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	139	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	127	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	128	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	127	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	117	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	117	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	120	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	111	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	110	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	113	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	115	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	115	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	117	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	113	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	113	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	113	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	109	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	108	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	108	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	109	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	110	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	110	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	109	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	109	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	109	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 89 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 13 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 12 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Physical Disability 5 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 5 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 4 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

Overall, how do parents view this school?

62%Positive

My child is happy at this school.

72%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

65%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

When bullying took place, the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.

agree50%

strongly disagree50%

not applicable86%

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree7%

agree29%

disagree7%

strongly disagree7%

Neither agree nor disagree50%

When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart.

strongly agree36%

agree7%

Neither agree nor disagree36%

disagree14%

strongly disagree7%

The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well.

strongly agree43%

agree21%

disagree14%

strongly disagree7%

Don't know14%

The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know.

strongly agree21%

agree21%

disagree21%

strongly disagree29%

Neither agree nor disagree7%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly.

strongly agree21%

agree21%

disagree21%

strongly disagree21%

not applicable7%

Neither agree nor disagree7%

Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)?

yes100%

My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree43%

agree21%

disagree21%

strongly disagree7%

Neither agree nor disagree7%

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

yes64%

no36%

Top Primary Schools in Cheshire West and Chester

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Outstanding

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Expected standard

location_on Northwich, CW8 1BN

emoji_events #2 in LA

Victoria Road Primary School

Good

location_on Northwich, CW9 5RE

emoji_events #3 in LA

Barnton Community Nursery and Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Northwich, CW8 4QL

emoji_events #4 in LA

Elton Primary School

Good

location_on Chester, CH2 4LT

emoji_events #5 in LA

Hartford Primary School

Good

location_on Northwich, CW8 1NA

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Cheshire West and Chester arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Overall, how do parents view this school?

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

When bullying took place, the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart.

The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well.

The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly.

Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)?

My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Cheshire West and Chester

Woodfall Primary and Nursery School

Charles Darwin Community Primary School

Victoria Road Primary School

Barnton Community Nursery and Primary School

Elton Primary School

Hartford Primary School