Caldecott Foundation School

Caldecott Foundation School maintains its status as a good school, creating a calm and purposeful environment that effectively supports pupils’ learning. The school promotes important values such as being ready, respectful, and safe, helping pupils to discover new interests and build confidence. Despite the positive atmosphere, the school faces challenges, especially with the teaching of certain subjects where staff may lack the depth of subject knowledge needed for consistent delivery. This inspection, the first since 2017, highlights efforts to enhance curriculum clarity and improve academic and personal development.

Strengths

• Calm and purposeful atmosphere that supports learning.
• Strong relationships between staff and pupils.
• Effective phonics program leading to secure reading skills.
• Broad and balanced curriculum fostering academic and personal development.
• Well-ordered lunchtimes fostering sociability.
• High staff morale and collaborative teamwork.
• Robust safeguarding practices.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent subject knowledge among staff affecting curriculum adaptation.
• Newly introduced PSHE program not yet fully established.

In 2024–25 pupils at Caldecott Foundation School attended 75.7% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 61.9% 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, 27.4% of pupils at Caldecott Foundation 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 Caldecott Foundation School had 69 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 98.6%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

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 non-maintained special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Ashford · Kent local authority: places and applications

What is Caldecott Foundation School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Caldecott Foundation School is Good, from an inspection in November 2022.

When was Caldecott Foundation School last inspected by Ofsted?

Caldecott Foundation School was last inspected in November 2022.

How many pupils does Caldecott Foundation School have?

Caldecott Foundation School has 69 pupils on roll.

What age range does Caldecott Foundation School cover?

Caldecott Foundation School for pupils aged 5 to 18.

Where is Caldecott Foundation School?

Caldecott Foundation School is at Station Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6PW.