Other independent special school
Preston · PR3 3YB · Lancashire
Ages 8–19
0.8 miles away
OpenOfsted: School remains GoodURN 131479
Hillside Specialist School and College
Community special school · Preston · PR3 3XB
Ages 3–19 · 117 pupils · Lancashire
Ofsted
School remains Good
Overall absence
9.2%
Ofsted
Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.
Headline
School remains Good
Inspection date
2024-04-24
Performance
Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.
Key stage 4 (2023/24)
Key stage 2 (2023/24)
Expected standard (RWM)0%
Higher standard (RWM)0%
Absence
Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.
Overall absence9.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)30.7%
Unauthorised2.1%
- Authorised absence
- 7.2%
- Severe absence (50%+)
- 1.1%
- Enrolments in measure
- 88
Absence trend
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
- Overall
- Persistent (10%+)
Size & intake
From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).
Capacity fill118%
117 pupils · 99 places
- Pupils on roll
- 117
- Boys / girls
- 88 / 29
- School capacity
- 99
- Capacity fill
- 117 / 99 (118%)
- Free school meals
- 38.6%
- FSM pupils
- 39
- Gender
- Mixed
- School type
- Community special school
Age range
Ages 3–19
05111619
Provision
Official GIAS characteristics
3 / 6
- NurseryHas Nursery Classes
- Sixth formHas a sixth form
- Boarding
- Special school
- Independent
- Academy
School characteristics
- Special classes
- Has Special Classes
- Governance
- Community special school
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Leaper
Location
- Address
- Ribchester Road, Longridge
- Postcode
- PR3 3XB
- Town
- Preston
- County
- Lancashire
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- District
- Ribble Valley
- Constituency
- Ribble Valley
- Urban/rural
- Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city
SEN & specialist provision
As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.
- SEN types
- ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- Special classes
- Has Special Classes
Local context
How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.
Mixed community special school, Ages 3–19, in Preston, Lancashire, 117 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, sixth form, special school. Free school meals: 38.6%. SEN provision includes: ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
Nearby schools
Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.
Longridge Church of England Primary School
Ofsted: Expected standardVoluntary aided school · Primary
Preston · PR3 3JA · Lancashire
Ages 4–11
- KS270%
- Absence5.0%
- FSM23.5%
- Demand1.00
0.9 miles away
St Cecilia's RC High School
Ofsted: Not judgedVoluntary aided school · Secondary
Preston · PR3 2XA · Lancashire
Ages 11–16
- Att845.5
- P80.1
- EM5+43%
- Absence10.6%
1.0 miles away
Longridge High School
Ofsted: Requires improvementAcademy converter · Secondary
Preston · PR3 3AR · Lancashire
Ages 11–16
- Absence8.8%
- FSM33.6%
- Demand0.76
1.1 miles away
Longridge St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Primary School
Ofsted: School remains GoodVoluntary aided school · Primary
Preston · PR3 3WQ · Lancashire
Ages 4–11
- KS243%
- Absence6.0%
- FSM28.6%
- Demand1.00
1.2 miles away
Barnacre Road Primary School
Ofsted: InadequateAcademy sponsor led · Primary
Longridge · PR3 2PD · Lancashire
Ages 4–11
- Absence5.5%
- FSM22.4%
- Demand1.00
1.3 miles away
Alston Lane Catholic Primary School, Longridge
Ofsted: School remains GoodAcademy converter · Primary
Preston · PR3 3BJ · Lancashire
Ages 2–11
- FSM18.1%
1.9 miles away
Ribchester St Wilfrid's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Ofsted: School remains GoodVoluntary aided school · Primary
Preston · PR3 3XP · Lancashire
Ages 4–11
- Absence3.3%
- FSM7.3%
- Demand1.00
2.3 miles away
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Contact
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Leaper
- Telephone
- 01772782205