Engaging Potential is an independent special school in Newbury, West Berkshire, for children and young people aged 13 to 19.
- Ages 13–19
- 14 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
School details
- Type
- Independent special school
- Ages
- 13 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 14 (places for 14)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Tracy Watson
- Opened
- 18 July 2013
- Council
- West Berkshire
- School reference (URN)
- 139963
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often West Berkshire council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- An offer, and the council’s agreement
As an independent school not approved under Section 41, it doesn’t have to accept a place: the school has to offer one, and the council has to agree to name it in the plan.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Good, November 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Independent school standards: all standards met.
Contact and getting there
Progress House, 79 Gaywood Drive, Newbury, RG14 2PR
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Fir Tree Primary School and Nursery Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Trinity School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- The Winchcombe School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.0 mile
All SEND schools in West Berkshire
By need in West Berkshire: Autism (6) · Hearing (4) · SEMH (2) · Moderate learning (2) · Severe learning (2) · PMLD (2) · Dyslexia and SpLD (2) · Physical (2)
Questions about Engaging Potential
How do I get a place at Engaging Potential?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult Engaging Potential. As an independent school not approved under Section 41, it has to offer a place and the council has to agree to name it.
What ages does Engaging Potential take?
Aged 13 to 19, boys and girls.
What is Engaging Potential’s Ofsted rating?
There’s no overall grade to show. Read the school’s latest inspection report on the Ofsted website.
Where is Engaging Potential?
Progress House, 79 Gaywood Drive, Newbury, RG14 2PR, in West Berkshire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.