Cann Bridge School

Cann Bridge School is an all-through special school in Plymouth for pupils aged 3 to 18 with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties, including a sixth form known as Post Bridge College. The school is improving rapidly after a period of well-prioritised leadership, with rising expectations and greater structure in learning. Behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision are all good, while the quality of education requires improvement. Safeguarding arrangements are effective, and relationships between staff and pupils are strong, helping pupils feel safe and happy.

Strengths

• Pupils benefit from supportive relationships and a calm, safe school environment.
• Staff respond well when pupils struggle or behaviour becomes heightened.
• Communication is a central focus, with pupils introduced to Makaton, alternative communication devices and Braille.
• The reading curriculum has been strengthened and pupils increasingly read fluently and understand stories.
• Personal, social and health education is carefully adapted to pupils' needs.
• Pupils receive support from a range of health professionals, promoting their well-being.
• Personal Development Club offers enrichment activities tailored to individual pupils.
• Pupils access valuable careers advice and support with next steps, including learning to use local transport.
• The school is imaginative and ambitious about what pupils can achieve in the community and beyond.
• Leaders have prioritised well and overseen rapid improvement since the last inspection.
• Governors provide strong challenge and support, and staff are growing in expertise and confidence.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Areas for Improvement

• Recent curriculum improvements are at an early stage and need time to embed.
• Teaching does not consistently help pupils embed and demonstrate new learning.
• Some work given to pupils does not build effectively on their existing knowledge and skills.
• Staff do not give pupils sufficient opportunity to apply and practise new learning.
• Support provided sometimes stops pupils from showing what they can do independently.
• Assessment and provision for pupils' reading and writing development are not sharply focused.
• The approach to assessment in the earliest stages of reading is not well established.
• Pupils who are developing as writers do not achieve as well as they could because individual difficulties are not worked through determinedly.
• Pupils' next steps in reading and writing are not clearly understood.

In 2024–25 pupils at Cann Bridge School attended 92.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 14.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Cann Bridge School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Cann Bridge School had 6.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Cann Bridge School had 111 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Cann Bridge School received £41,970 and spent £41,692 for each of its 111 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £200,000 (£1,803 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Plymouth · Plymouth local authority: places and applications

What is Cann Bridge School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Cann Bridge School is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was Cann Bridge School last inspected by Ofsted?

Cann Bridge School was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Cann Bridge School have?

Cann Bridge School has 111 pupils on roll.

What age range does Cann Bridge School cover?

Cann Bridge School for pupils aged 3 to 19.

What are Cann Bridge School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Cann Bridge School?

Cann Bridge School is at 23 Eden Valley Gardens, Estover, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8EE.