The Outdoors School

This was a material change inspection for The Outdoors School, an independent special school for pupils aged 7 to 16 with social, emotional, mental health and neurodevelopmental needs. The school is part of The Outdoors Group Ltd and currently operates across several sites. It has applied to increase its admission number from 120 to 180 and to use an additional site, Bear Town. The inspection found that the school's existing leadership, safeguarding, recruitment checks, health and safety arrangements and risk assessments are strong, with a clear vision and secure oversight from the proprietor. However, inspectors concluded that the school is unlikely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the proposed material changes are implemented. The main concern is the new Bear Town site, which has outstanding building work and has not yet been reconfigured to meet pupils' needs. Planning permission for teaching shelters is still awaited, and the premises currently lack adequate toilet and changing arrangements, readily available drinking water, a dedicated medical room, appropriate fencing, cleared pathways, removal of condemned play equipment and external lighting. The accessibility plan has also not been updated for the new site. The report recognises that safeguarding is embedded and that the school knows its pupils well, but the weaknesses in the proposed premises mean the material change cannot yet be supported. This is the school's fourth material change inspection, and the previous inspection in October 2024 found the school likely to meet the standards for that change.

Strengths

• Clear and ambitious vision for supporting vulnerable pupils with SEND
• Proprietor maintains effective oversight of the school
• Leaders understand the independent school standards and apply them well on current sites
• Safeguarding is embedded across school life with robust systems and regular training
• Staff know pupils well and report welfare concerns confidently
• Health and safety, fire safety and first aid arrangements are effective
• Thorough risk assessments cover activities, transport and external visits
• Individual safety plans are developed for each pupil
• Recruitment checks are completed before employment and supply staff checks are appropriate
• The single central record is well organised and regularly checked
• Intended staff-to-pupil ratios on the new site would ensure proper supervision
• The current school has an appropriate accessibility policy and plan

Areas for Improvement

• The proposed Bear Town site has outstanding building work and is not yet configured for pupils' needs
• Planning permission for teaching shelters across the new site is still pending
• Toilet, shower and changing facilities have not been reconfigured to reflect the proprietor's vision
• Drinking water is not readily available throughout the proposed site and signage is inadequate
• Hot water could not be tested because it was not connected
• The proposed site lacks a dedicated medical room with a bed and appropriate first-aid equipment
• The proposed site is not maintained safely, with inadequate fencing, overgrown pathways and condemned play equipment still present
• There is no external lighting outside on the proposed site
• The accessibility plan has not been updated to reflect the new school site

In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at The Outdoors School were on SEN support (nationally 18.4%) and 100.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 7.9%).

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 independent school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Exeter · Devon local authority: places and applications

What is The Outdoors School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Outdoors School is Good, from an inspection in October 2026.

When was The Outdoors School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Outdoors School was last inspected in October 2026.

How many pupils does The Outdoors School have?

The Outdoors School has 112 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Outdoors School cover?

The Outdoors School for pupils aged 7 to 16.

Where is The Outdoors School?

The Outdoors School is at Straw Barn, Barton Lane, Shillingford Abbot, Exeter, Devon, EX2 9QQ.