The Cedar School
Redbridge Lane, Nursling, Southampton, SO16 0XNOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Cedar School is a special school in Southampton for ages 3 to 16. It is one of the 84 schools in Southampton. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2014.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 5 June 2014, report published 27 June 2014
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 24 January 2024
This is a very happy and positive school community. Both adults and pupils enjoy being here, and their smiles and upbeat attitudes convey this clearly. Because staff get to know the pupils so well, relationships are strong, and everyone feels safe and secure. There is a strong shared commitment to making sure pupils achieve everything they are capable of. This sense of aspiration, combined with a caring approach, means pupils develop high levels of confidence. Pupils of all ages proactively invite visitors to join in with their learning. The youngest children warmly invite everyone to join in with their song time, and older pupils eagerly share their learning about 'Romeo and Juliet'. All pupils behave exceptionally well. They are active participants in their learning. This is because of the well-established routines and expectations, which are consistently followed by everyone. Pupils are polite to each other and to adults. External professionals, from health and therapy services, are regularly involved in classroom activities. They also share the same high expectations of the pupils they support. They work closely and effectively with school staff to deliver personalised care. Staff are focused on promoting independence at every opportunity, and pupils' opinions and preferences are listened to and acted upon.
What the school should improve
- The school has recently implemented a new assessment system. They are in the process of transferring from the previous system to use this across all subjects for both curriculum pathways. The school should continue the work to fully implement this system to ensure there is a clear overview of the progress pupils are making through the planned curriculum.
- There are currently not as many opportunities for pupils to access work experience placements in the wider community as leaders intend. This means some pupils could be better prepared for future employment. The school should continue to broaden the range of settings that pupils can visit to experience the world of work.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
7 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
86 pupils on roll, with places for 90
Schools near The Cedar School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosewood Free School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
| GLADE School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Vermont School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Inadequate to requires improvement | 0% met the expected standard |
| Great Oaks School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 1.0 |
| Forest Park School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Cesia Moran
- Phone
- 02380734205
- Address
- Redbridge Lane, Nursling, Southampton, SO16 0XN
- Local authority
- Southampton
- URN
- 116622
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.