Lyme Brook Independent School
90 King Street, Newcastle under-Lyme, ST5 1JBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Lyme Brook Independent School is a special school in Newcastle-under-Lyme for ages 8 to 16. It is one of the 451 schools in Staffordshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 19 September 2023, report published 22 October 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 19 September 2023
This is a small school with a big heart. The well-established ethos of kindness is shared by all members of the school community. This means that the school is a safe and happy place to be. Pupils who have not attended school for long periods of time enjoy coming to school. They attend daily and arrive on time, ready to learn. Pupils say that staff understand them. Expectations are high. The majority of pupils behave well. They say that bullying is rare, and unkindness is not tolerated. Relationships between pupils and staff are positive. These strong relationships support pupils' learning well. The school is aspirational and all staff want the best for their pupils. Most pupils engage well because teachers plan learning that meets their individual needs. On the rare occasion when this is not the case, pupils struggle to remember what they have been previously taught. This means pupils do not always do as well as they could. Alongside the taught curriculum, pupils access opportunities outside of the classroom. They enjoy trips and visits that enhance their learning experiences.
What the school should improve
- On rare occasions, the planned work given to pupils does not always enable them to achieve the aims of the curriculum. This is because the work is not adapted well enough to meet the individual needs of pupils. This slows some pupils' learning. The school should ensure that staff consistently give pupils work that meets the individual needs of all pupils. This will ensure that all pupils are able to learn more and remember more.
Pupil numbers and mix
6 pupils on roll, with places for 16
Schools near Lyme Brook Independent School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackfriars Academy | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
| Merryfields School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Coppice Academy | 0.9 miles | Ofsted judgements: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 2.4 |
| Emerge School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Snowhill School | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 5.2 |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 8 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Admissions
- Selective
- Headteacher
- Headteacher David Thomas Cantillon
- Phone
- 01782987520
- Address
- 90 King Street, Newcastle under-Lyme, ST5 1JB
- Local authority
- Staffordshire
- URN
- 146982
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.