SchoolScoresHerons Dale School
Special school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Hawkins Crescent, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6TN
01273 596904 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 6 February 2013.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 February 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
19 pupils in this year group.
0% — 60 points below the West Sussex average, and 62 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 0% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 0% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 0% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 104 | 105 |
"Not published": No figure published.
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in West Sussex. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Visual impairment; Other difficulties or disabilities; Hearing impairment; Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Multi-sensory impairment; Physical disability; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties; Profound and multiple learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 32.4% | 39.1%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 99.9%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.1%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 8.3% | 10.7%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 11.7% | 11.3%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 34.8% | 34.7%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 3.4 | 5.5 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 3.4% | 3.6% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.09% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 6.5 | 7.0 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 6.9% | 11.4%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby special schools
- Hill Park School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 3% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hove Micro-School 1.3 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- The Lioncare School 2.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Herons Dale School's Ofsted rating?
Herons Dale School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 6 February 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 February 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Herons Dale School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 0% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 62 points below the England average of 62%.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 126169.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.