Bettridge School

  • Special
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 2 to 19
Ofsted: Good

Warden Hill Road, Cheltenham, GL51 3ATOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Bettridge School is a special school in Cheltenham for ages 2 to 19. It is one of the 329 schools in Gloucestershire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2017.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 1 February 2017, report published 27 February 2017

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 15 November 2022

Bettridge School is a school where pupils are well cared for. Staff are highly skilled at understanding each pupil's individual needs. Pupils use a range of communication aids and strategies that enable them to share their ideas, thoughts and feelings. Strong relationships between staff and pupils help pupils to feel happy and become confident learners. Leaders have designed new curriculum pathways that allow pupils to achieve well from their different starting points. Pupils like learning alongside their peers, who have similar learning needs to themselves. Learning is carefully planned to help each pupil make small steps of progress towards their education, health and care (EHC) plan objectives. Pupils enjoy learning through practical and play activities. They engage well in a range of social and cultural events. Behaviour in lessons and around the school is good. The atmosphere in classes is calm, quiet and purposeful. Staff provide effective support to pupils. This helps pupils to maintain good levels of concentration and effort in their work. When pupils become distressed, anxious or cross, staff manage this well. As a result, pupils are kept safe. They say that they feel happy at school.

What the school should improve

  • The curriculum is not yet sequenced as well as it could be for each pathway. As a result, teaching is not aways planned well enough to ensure that learning builds on pupils' prior skills or knowledge. This makes it difficult for staff to check pupils' understanding and what they need to learn next. Leaders should ensure that there is a clear sequence of learning for all subjects, which is assessed consistently.
  • Despite interventions being identified well, the impact of this intervention work is not identified accurately. This means pupils do not learn consistently well. Leaders should ensure that all interventions include ambitious end points for pupils so they achieve well.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

16 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 62 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Pupil numbers and mix

145 pupils on roll, with places for 150

Eligible for free school meals40%

40%, 13.5 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language9%

9%, 12.6 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support0%

0%, 14.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan100%

100%, 94 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Bettridge School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Belmont School0.1 milesOfsted: Outstanding0% met the expected standard
Battledown School2 milesOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard
Lift Crescent View2 milesOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard
Brook Academy3 milesOfsted judgements: GoodNot published
The Milestone School5 milesOfsted judgements: Good0% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community special school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
2 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Mrs Jo Bleasdale
Address
Warden Hill Road, Cheltenham, GL51 3AT
Local authority
Gloucestershire
URN
115821

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.