Safe Start School
Tameside, Greater Manchester · OL6 7ST
Safe Start School is a small, trauma-informed independent day school in Tameside serving pupils aged 11–16 who have experienced educational disengagement due to childhood trauma or adverse experiences. The school operates on a bespoke, nurturing model with a primary focus on building secure relationships and personalised learning, rather than traditional academic pressure. With just 38 pupils and consistent key-adult mentoring, it aims to restore learners' engagement, confidence, and love of learning alongside accreditation in core subjects and digital skills.
- →Trauma-informed, therapeutic approach explicitly designed for children who have struggled in mainstream settings
- →Very small cohort (38 pupils) enabling genuine personalisation and consistent key-adult relationships
- →Holistic support spanning mental health, wellbeing, safeguarding, and liaison with social workers and external agencies
Who thrives here
Pupils aged 11–16 who have experienced significant disruption to their education, childhood trauma, or mental health challenges, and who need a nurturing, low-pressure environment with high pastoral support to re-engage with learning and rebuild confidence.
Strengths at a glance
Percentiles within UK independent + grammar schools we track.
At a glance
Contact & visit
1, 2, 4 & 5 Henry Square Chambers, Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne
Tameside, Greater Manchester
OL6 7ST
Nearest stations
Frequently asked questions
How do you get into Safe Start School?
Safe Start School admits pupils at 11+, 13+, 16+. Entry is assessed by Interview, Assessment. See the Admissions section above for open days and key dates.
What are Safe Start School's exam results?
At Safe Start School, 0% of GCSEs were grade 7/A or above. Full results are in the Results section above.
Is Safe Start School a boarding school?
Safe Start School is a day school in Tameside and does not offer boarding.
What is Safe Start School's latest inspection rating?
Ofsted rated Safe Start School “Good” (2022).
What parents say
Frequently praised
✓Life-changing intervention for children failed by mainstream education
✓Genuinely supportive, trauma-informed staff culture that prioritises relationship-building
✓Restored confidence, engagement, and love of learning in highly vulnerable young people
✓Effective multi-agency working and family involvement
Common concerns
!School is not yet Ofsted-inspected; limited independent quality assurance
!Very small size (38 pupils) limits breadth of curriculum, co-curricular offer, and peer group diversity
!No published academic outcomes or progression data available
!Relatively new or emerging school with limited track record of long-term pupil outcomes