Lancaster School
Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 0RTOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Lancaster School is a special school in Westcliff-on-Sea for ages 14 to 19. It is one of the 59 schools in Southend-on-Sea. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in June 2026.
Ofsted report card
Inspected 2 June 2026, report published 23 June 2026
Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.
- Inclusion
- Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching
- Expected standard
- Achievement
- Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour
- Strong standard
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Strong standard
- Leadership and governance
- Expected standard
- Post-16 provision
- Expected standard
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 2 June 2026
This school has a positive and substantial impact on pupils’ lives. The meticulous care and attention that pupils receive means that they thrive. Pupils who are non-verbal receive support to communicate via other means. Staff’s emphasis on communication in all that pupils do helps pupils navigate daily life. Pupils forge meaningful relationships. Staff's explicit teaching of expression, gesture and behaviour enables pupils to manage themselves in a variety of situations, such as when they meet people for the first time. Pupils also understand clearly the expectations for how they are to behave in school. Consequently, pupils follow routines and instructions very well. Over time, there have been few cases of bullying. Pupils enjoy warm and trusting relationships with staff. Pupils are eager to see them and want to attend school. As they know pupils so well, staff understand exactly when and how to introduce pupils to new experiences. For example, they ascertain when post-16 students are ready to travel independently. Staff gradually build pupils’ experience of residential trips where the length of stay increases. Hence, the recent trip to Portugal was successful. Pupils were confident to travel and experience another culture overseas. The curriculum serves pupils well. This incorporates pupils’ education, health and care (EHC) plan targets. Pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties learn to engage with a variety of stimuli. Staff are adept at helping pupils feel safe. They choose judiciously sensory approaches so that pupils do not feel overwhelmed. As they progress through school, pupils develop the confidence to contribute to school council, run clubs and socialise in different situations. They are prepared well for their next steps after school. This includes following courses in local colleges.
What the school should improve
- Leaders should embed the new assessment system so that teachers ensure they address pupils' gaps in learning precisely.
- Leaders should analyse and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the school's work more astutely to ensure sustained improvement as they expand its provision.
Pupil numbers and mix
138 pupils on roll, with places for 106
Schools near Lancaster School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estuary High School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Inadequate | Not published |
| Compass Community School Boleyn Park | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| The St Christopher School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 4.2 |
| Kingsdown School | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| Sutton House Academy | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 6.1 |
School details
- School type
- Academy special converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- SEN TRUST SOUTHEND
- Age range
- 14 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr Tom Jackson-Owens
- Phone
- 01702342543
- Address
- Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 0RT
- Local authority
- Southend-on-Sea
- URN
- 144693
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.