Ofsted: Outstanding

Meadowfield School

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

personMs Angela Howe

location_onSITTINGBOURNE, ME10 4NL

language Visit Website phone 1795477788

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

410

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Age Range

4-19

summarize

Meadowfield School is a Foundation special school school in SITTINGBOURNE, serving ages 4-19. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade.

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School Summary

Meadowfield School is a foundation special school in SITTINGBOURNE, Kent, admitting pupils aged 4-19. The school has approximately 400 pupils on roll, of whom 49% are eligible for free school meals.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 7.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2024

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2023

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-1.56

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0

2018

Progress 8 Score

-1.43

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

1.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0

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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.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)96%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

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

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

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)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 61%

Reading0% LA 74%

Writing0% LA 72%

Maths0% LA 70%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 60%England 61%

Reading0% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths0% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 58%England 60%

Reading0% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths0% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-11.5

Read

LA -0.4

-14.2 to -8.9

-12.5

Write

LA -0.2

-15.1 to -10.0

-10.8

Maths

LA -1.2

-13.2 to -8.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 67%England 65%

Reading0% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 81% · Eng 78%

Maths0% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.9

Read

LA 0.0

-2.1 to 3.9

2.7

Write

LA 0.1

-0.1 to 5.5

0.3

Maths

LA -0.6

-2.3 to 2.9

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 65%

Reading0% LA 76%

Writing0% LA 80%

Maths0% LA 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.2

Read

LA 0.0

-2.3 to 2.7

0.6

Write

LA 0.4

-1.8 to 3

-0.1

Maths

LA -0.5

-2.4 to 2.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

24 June 2025

Inspection Report

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16 April 2024

Inspection Report

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12 May 2021

Inspection Report

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26 March 2019

Inspection Report

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13 November 2014

Inspection Report

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05 October 2011

Inspection Report

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09 June 2009

Inspection Report

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07 June 2006

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-06-24

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-03-26

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-11-13

S5 Inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2011-10-05

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

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

0.2%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.2%(1 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: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 400 pupils. During this period, there were 1 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.2%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	400	1	0.2%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	406	2	0.5%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	406	0	0.0%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	408	3	0.7%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	410	0	0.0%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	416	0	0.0%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	410	0	0.0%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	413	0	0.0%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	406	2	0.5%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	392	1	0.3%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	391	2	0.5%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	376	0	0.0%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	368	0	0.0%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	375	1	0.3%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	333	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	333	0	0.0%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	323	2	0.6%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	296	2	0.7%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	298	0	0.0%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	293	0	0.0%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	281	5	1.8%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	282	0	0.0%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	279	1	0.4%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	261	1	0.4%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	257	1	0.4%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	250	1	0.4%	3.1%

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 242 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 98 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 36 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 13 pupils

Physical Disability 6 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

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

My child is happy at this school.

68.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

62.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree21%

agree30%

disagree32%

strongly disagree13%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree25%

agree32%

disagree14%

strongly disagree25%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree21%

agree30%

disagree11%

strongly disagree29%

not applicable9%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes100%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree30%

agree32%

disagree11%

strongly disagree25%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree27%

agree20%

disagree29%

strongly disagree16%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree27%

agree23%

disagree20%

strongly disagree20%

don't know11%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree25%

agree34%

disagree21%

strongly disagree18%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree27%

agree27%

disagree21%

strongly disagree9%

don't know16%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree18%

agree21%

disagree14%

strongly disagree25%

don't know21%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree27%

agree27%

disagree20%

strongly disagree21%

don't know5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes48%

no52%

Meadowfield School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

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

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

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 special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover