Hamilton Lodge is an average-sized special school. It caters for deaf children and because there is residential accommodation, children come from a wide geographical area. Most pupils are White British with the rest from a few minority ethnic backgrounds. A small number use English as an additional language. All teaching is through the medium of British Sign Language and spoken English. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs for hearing impairment. Over two thirds have additional needs, mainly associated with autism, learning difficulties and/or emotional and behavioural difficulties. There are twice as many boys as girls. Pupils spend three years in Key Stage 4 and this is agreed with their funding authority. The school has a sixth form for students up to the age of 18. It holds the Positive about Disabled people award. There are currently no pupils at the school under the age of 10. There were 38 boarders at the school at the time of the inspection with separate residences for boys and girls.