Welcome from the Headteacher of City of Rochester School.

City of Rochester School is a specialist school for children and young people aged 5–18 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). We are proud of our pupils, our strong partnerships with parents and carers, and our dedicated staff team who work together to create a safe, happy and inspiring environment for learning.

As a small school, we offer a highly personalised and bespoke curriculum built around the individual pupil. Guided by our core principles of Confidence, Resilience and Success, our curriculum is broad and ambitious, combining academic, vocational and creative learning delivered through a therapeutic and nurturing approach.

From Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5, pupils can access a range of accredited programmes, from entry-level qualifications to GCSEs and beyond. Experiential learning is a key feature of our curriculum and includes opportunities such as forest school, STEM activities, photography, wellbeing, music, geographical exploration and meaningful work experience. Pupils in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 also access age-appropriate vocational experiences at the Vocational College that build early practical skills, curiosity and independence.

Our partners include Squirrell’s Riding School, Larkin Farm, Creepy Claws Farm, Medway League of Friends and St Helen’s Church – to name a few. These partners understand the individual needs of our pupils and work with patience, flexibility and care to support confidence, inclusion and success beyond the classroom.

A key strength of the school is our Vocational College, which provides practical, hands-on pathways for pupils who thrive through technical and vocational learning. Courses include construction trades, engineering and motor vehicle studies, with English and mathematics embedded throughout. This provision is particularly well suited to pupils who do not enjoy learning in a traditional classroom environment and who are motivated by learning through "doing".

Our post-16 provision, based at the Vocational College, focuses on preparing pupils for adulthood and life after education. Bespoke programmes develop independence, employability and life skills, including access to our on-site flat and extended work experience opportunities that support successful next steps.

Alongside academic learning, we place a strong emphasis on pupils’ social, emotional and communication development. Our therapeutic approach is embedded across the school and supported by a wraparound therapy team, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, play therapy, arts therapy and counselling. Strong relationships between staff, pupils and families form the foundation of our work.

During the most recent Ofsted Inspection in July 2024, inspectors recognised that “the school has designed its educational offer very carefully to ensure that pupils achieve well academically,” with learning that “deliberately builds on what came before and enables pupils to build their knowledge and understanding in manageable steps.” They also noted that pupils “work hard to meet the school’s high expectations for their behaviour and conduct and to achieve well in their learning.”

This picture is strongly reinforced by feedback from our Parent Survey (2025), where all parents who responded said that their child is happy at City of Rochester School and spoke positively about the progress their child has made both academically and personally. Parents highlighted improvements in confidence, engagement with learning and readiness for next steps, saying that the consistent support helps pupils achieve success in ways that are meaningful for them.

City of Rochester School also benefits from an experienced and supportive Trustee Board, whose breadth of knowledge and expertise provides strong strategic oversight and ensures a continued focus on high standards and positive outcomes for pupils.

We are proud of our school community and warmly welcome you to City of Rochester School.

Alicja Emmett Headteacher