Gosden House School caters for students with a wide range of learning difficulties ranging from moderate to severe. The complexity of students' needs has increased in recent years. Many have associated speech, language and communication difficulties and a minority are on the autistic spectrum. All have a statement of special educational needs or are being assessed for one. The school has a mixed primary department and an all-girls secondary department. The school provides boarding provision for up to 38 boarders on a rolling programme. As part of the school's outreach work, pupils from mainstream schools attend lessons on a sessional basis and some Gosden students attend mainstream schools. The overwhelming majority of students are from White British backgrounds and very few speak English as an additional language. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are taught in the Reception class. The school has a number of awards, including the International School award and Healthy Schools status. It is a Rights Respecting School and it gained specialist status for Cognition and Learning in September 2010.