Bidwell Brook School
| Type | Special School / Foundation special school |
| Age Range | 3-19 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Shinner's Bridge Dartington Totnes Devon TQ9 6JU |
| Phone | 01803864120 |
| Reference Number | 113643 |
Bidwell Brook School operates within the Learn to Live Federation and serves pupils with diverse and significant special educational needs, including profound and multiple learning disabilities and severe learning difficulties. The school demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusivity and fosters a safe, supportive environment for its 153 pupils. Safeguarding measures are robust, and the school is praised for its high expectations regarding attendance and behavior, creating a positive atmosphere conducive to learning. Overall, the school excels in personal development and wellbeing, evidenced by a curriculum that promotes self-discipline, community awareness, and prepares students effectively for life beyond school. Despite facing challenges related to staffing, recent improvements in staff morale and parental engagement are indicative of effective leadership. As the school aims to enhance curriculum consistency and clarity further, the current performance reflects a strong standard with opportunities for further growth and refinement.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 153 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 66.67%
Girls: 33.33% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 46.9% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 1.3% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 3 | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| 4 | 12 | 1 | 13 |
| 5 | 4 | 7 | 11 |
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 | 4 | 11 |
| 8 | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| 9 | 12 | 4 | 16 |
| 10 | 10 | 3 | 13 |
| 11 | 11 | 4 | 15 |
| 12 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| 13 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 95.4% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 2% |
| White & Asian | 0.7% |
| Unclassified | 0.7% |
| Mixed, Other | 0.7% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Expected standard |
| > Leadership & Governance | Expected standard |
| > Personal Development & Wellbeing | Strong standard |
| > Achievement | Expected standard |
| > Attendance & Behaviour | Strong standard |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Expected standard |
| > Inclusion | Expected standard |
| > Post-16 Provision | Expected standard |
| > Early Years | Expected standard |
| Last Report Date | 24 Mar 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 24 Mar 2026 | School inspection |
| 20 Jun 2023 | School inspection |
| 10 Oct 2017 | Short inspection |
| 16 Jan 2014 | Full inspection |
| 08 Mar 2011 | Full inspection |
| 09 Jul 2008 | Full inspection |
| 06 Dec 2004 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Strong safeguarding culture ensuring pupils feel safe and supported.
- High expectations for attendance and behavior, adapted to individual needs.
- Robust personal development program fostering character and independence.
- Inclusive practices that ensure all pupils' needs are met effectively.
- Well-structured sixth-form provision preparing students for next steps.
Areas for Improvement
- Need for greater consistency in curriculum delivery.
- Requirement for clearer oversight of the impact of leadership decisions.
How many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 0% | ||
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 0% |
Progress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | -2.6 | ||
| Writing | -2.2 | ||
| Maths | -1.3 |
How many students meet the standards
Sample
UnlockProgress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
Sample
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