Oak Bank School is a special academy in Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire, for children and young people aged 9 to 19. It supports SEMH.
- Ages 9–19
- 123 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
School details
- Type
- Special academy
- Ages
- 9 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 123 (places for 127)
- Headteacher
- Mr Philip Collier (Executive Head)
- Part of
- Oak Bank School
- Opened
- 1 November 2013
- Free school meals
- 67.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Central Bedfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 140286
Needs it supports
1 need: SEMH
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Social, emotional and mental health
- Social, emotional and mental health Other schools for this in Central Bedfordshire (4)
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 Central Bedfordshire council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Free home-to-school transport is often part of the arrangement.
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 Outstanding, March 2019; standards maintained (October 2024)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in March 2019. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, October 2024).
Contact and getting there
Sandy Lane, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3BE
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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
- Heathwood Lower School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–9 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- The Rushmere Park Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–9 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.9 miles
- Benjamin College Independent · Ages 12–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
All SEND schools in Central Bedfordshire
By need in Central Bedfordshire: Autism (10) · SEMH (5) · Speech and language (4) · Hearing (4) · Moderate learning (2) · Severe learning (2) · PMLD (2) · Multi-sensory (2) · Physical (2)
Questions about Oak Bank School
How do I get a place at Oak Bank School?
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 Oak Bank School. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does Oak Bank School support?
Social, emotional and mental health. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does Oak Bank School take?
Aged 9 to 19, boys and girls.
What is Oak Bank School’s Ofsted rating?
There’s no overall grade to show. Read the school’s latest inspection report on the Ofsted website.
Where is Oak Bank School?
Sandy Lane, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3BE, in Central Bedfordshire.
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.