Arbour Vale School
Farnham Road, Farnham Royal, Slough, SL2 3AEOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Arbour Vale School is a special school in Slough for ages 2 to 19. It is one of the 59 schools in Slough. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 10 January 2023, report published 8 February 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 10 January 2023
Staff know pupils very well. They provide pupils with the help, care and support they need to become confident, independent and successful citizens. Pupils are resoundingly clear that their school is a 'friendly, happy, welcoming and safe place'. They rise to leaders' high expectations and show positive attitudes to learning. Pupils are polite and thoughtful. They hold doors open for others. Around school, pupils share a warm smile with their friends and with staff as they go about their day. On the occasions when pupils find it difficult to manage their behaviour, staff respond sensitively and carefully to help pupils regulate their feelings. Pupils take 'time out' to relax in the sensory garden. They practise yoga, meditation and mindfulness. Pupils look after their environment by planting flowers around school. They revel in their responsibilities, for example as librarians, sports mentors or members of the school council. Pupils enjoy the after-school clubs, such as dancing, multisports and crafts. They proudly showcase their singing talents by performing at local and national events. Pupils say that bullying is rare. They trust staff, who quickly help pupils resolve any worries or problems they have.
What the school should improve
- Some staff lack subject expertise in teaching phonics effectively. As a result, the weakest readers do not learn to read quickly and confidently. Leaders should continue to provide training to develop staff's expertise to teach pupils to read.
- Occasionally, teachers do not check and address pupils' misconceptions of the content taught. Consequently, sometimes, pupils do not learn the planned knowledge as well as they could from their individual starting points. Leaders need to ensure that all staff are clear about how to use assessment effectively to help pupils embed the important knowledge they need to learn.
- Some staff who responded to Ofsted's staff survey do not always feel supported to manage their workload well. Leaders need to take appropriate and timely action to address the concerns raised.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
18 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
384 pupils on roll, with places for 375
Schools near Arbour Vale School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Littledown School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Darul Madinah | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Hillingdon Grange School | 3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School | 3 miles | Report card: Strong standard | Attainment 8: 12.2 |
| The Green Room School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 11.4 |
School details
- School type
- Academy special sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ORCHARD HILL COLLEGE ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr Neil Sykes
- Phone
- 01753515560
- Address
- Farnham Road, Farnham Royal, Slough, SL2 3AE
- Local authority
- Slough
- URN
- 145741
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.