Hillside Specialist School and College
Ribchester Road, Longridge, Preston, PR3 3XBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Hillside Specialist School and College is a special school in Preston for ages 3 to 19. It is one of the 692 schools in Lancashire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2018.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 February 2018, report published 14 March 2018
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 5 March 2024
Pupils thrive at this calm and welcoming school. Staff welcome them with kind words and a smile at the start of each day. Pupils benefit from the positive relationships that they have with adults who know them well. Staff take great care to ensure that pupils settle in quickly when they first join the school. Pupils are happy. All pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They respond well to the high aspirations that the school has for their achievements and conduct. Pupils achieve well. Pupils enjoy a wealth of experiences that make a significant contribution to their wider development. For example, they develop their talents and interests through the 'sing and sign' choir, swimming and competitive sports events at local schools. Pupils enjoy a wide range of trips, such as to cities, local amenities and residential visits where they take part in outdoor pursuits. Pupils benefit from a rewarding programme of work experience in the local community. As members of the school council, they make a significant contribution to the life of the school. Pupils become resilient and independent young people. They are extremely well prepared for adulthood.
What the school should improve
- In a small number of subjects, the school has not thought about the important information that pupils should learn. As a result, some pupils do not learn the curriculum in sufficient depth. The school should provide staff with the information that they need so that they know precisely the content that pupils should learn and when this should be taught.
- Some of the agreed assessment strategies are still being determined by the school. This means that some pupils have gaps and misconceptions in their learning. This hinders how well these pupils achieve. The school should refine its approach to these assessment strategies to enable staff to check that pupils are achieving as well as they should.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
6 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
117 pupils on roll, with places for 99
Schools near Hillside Specialist School and College
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook View School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Sir Tom Finney Community High School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 0.3 |
| Acorns Primary School | 6 miles | Ofsted judgements: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| Moorbrook School | 7 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | Attainment 8: 3.5 |
| The Coppice School | 7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Leaper
- Phone
- 01772782205
- Address
- Ribchester Road, Longridge, Preston, PR3 3XB
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- URN
- 131479
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.