SchoolScoresThe Chiltern School
Special school · All-through, ages 3 to 19 · Mixed · Nursery class · Sixth form
Parkside Drive, Dunstable, LU5 5PX
01582 866972 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 11 October 2012.
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 23 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
31 pupils in this year group.
0% — 50 points below the Central Bedfordshire average, and 62 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 50% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 3% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 0% | 70% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 0% | 61% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 0% | 66% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 104 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 103 | 105 |
"Not published": No figure published.
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
12 pupils in this year group.
100% — 7 points above the Central Bedfordshire average, and 8 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 100% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 43% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 2% | 13% |
| Further education college | 0% | 40% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 100% | 100% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 Central Bedfordshire. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
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: Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Multi-sensory impairment; Physical disability; Severe learning difficulties; Profound and multiple learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 33.0% | 41.6%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 100.0%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.0%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 17.9% | 8.1%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 10.1% | 12.2%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 33.6% | 34.1%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 8.9 | 10.4 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 4.6% | 5.5% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 6.5 | 4.6 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 1.7 | 1.5 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 11.9% | 10.9%* | 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
- Stannard School 1.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Woodlands Secondary School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024)
- Weatherfield Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Chiltern School's Ofsted rating?
The Chiltern School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 11 October 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 23 February 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 109746.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.