Critchill Special School

Critchill Special School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 with complex needs and severe learning difficulties, all of whom have EHC plans. Following this graded inspection, the school was judged outstanding in every key area: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, early years provision and sixth-form provision. The report describes pupils as thriving in a highly bespoke curriculum that enables them to flourish socially, emotionally, academically and physically, with exceptionally strong preparation for adulthood and the world beyond school. The school's work is characterised by precise planning around individual pupils' needs, a strong priority on communication and phonics, and highly effective early years and sixth-form provision. Behaviour is described as strong and attitudes to learning impeccable, supported by bespoke approaches and very strong relationships. The careers programme in the sixth form is exceptional, including work placements and community-based learning. Leadership is outstanding at all levels, with effective governance and trust oversight, positive staff views on well-being and workload, and effusive parental praise. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. This was a graded inspection under section 5, and, under the arrangements from September 2024, no overall effectiveness grade was given. The school's previous inspection grade was good, and the report identifies no areas of concern or required improvement.

Strengths

• Highly bespoke curriculum meets the complex needs of all pupils exceptionally well
• Outstanding quality of education across early years, main school and sixth form
• Pupils are highly enthused learners with impeccable attitudes to learning
• Strong focus on communication skills, including symbols, sign language and personalised approaches
• Effective phonics teaching, including sensory and hydrotherapy-based support
• Excellent early years provision with strong communication, number and physical development
• Profoundly personalised sixth-form curriculum prepares students exceptionally well for adulthood
• Exceptional careers programme with work placements and community-based learning
• Visionary behaviour approach built on very strong relationships and personalised support
• Personalised approaches swiftly address attendance issues
• Outstanding leadership and management at all levels
• Governors and trust hold the school to account effectively
• Staff are overwhelmingly positive about support for well-being and workload
• Parents are effusive in their praise of the school
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

In 2024–25 pupils at Critchill Special School attended 94.3% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 16.9% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Critchill Special 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 Critchill Special School had 7.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 18.8% 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 Critchill Special School had 96 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; 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 special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Critchill Special School received £29,027 and spent £26,542 for each of its 97 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,107,000 (£11,417 per pupil).

Across all 41 schools of Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership, income was £8,730 and spending £8,608 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Frome · Somerset local authority: places and applications

Critchill Special School is part of Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership, which runs 43 schools. The nearest others:

• Trinity Church of England First School Frome
• Oakfield Academy Frome
• Selwood Academy Frome
• Frome Community College Frome
• Hemington Primary School Radstock
• Leigh On Mendip School Radstock
• Somerset Studio School Radstock
• Writhlington School Radstock
• Shoscombe Church School Bath
• Trinity Church School Bath

What is Critchill Special School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Critchill Special School is Outstanding, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was Critchill Special School last inspected by Ofsted?

Critchill Special School was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does Critchill Special School have?

Critchill Special School has 96 pupils on roll.

What age range does Critchill Special School cover?

Critchill Special School for pupils aged 4 to 19.

What are Critchill Special School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Critchill Special School?

Critchill Special School is at Nunney Road, Frome, Somerset, BA11 4LB.