Belong School Devon

Belong School Devon is an independent special school for pupils with education, health and care plans, predominantly with social, emotional and mental health needs and autism. It is judged at the strong standard overall, with all independent school standards met and safeguarding standards met. Personal development and wellbeing is a strong standard, while achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance are at the expected standard. The school has moved sites since a 2024 material change inspection and was last inspected in May 2023. The school’s relational, trauma-informed and inclusive approach is a major strength. Pupils feel safe, behaviour is well supported, bullying is rare, and pupils build confidence and resilience. Leaders have a clear vision, families are closely involved, and preparation for post-16 is notably strong, including outdoor learning, volunteering and the Duke of Edinburgh’s award. However, some pupils’ foundational gaps in reading, writing and mathematics do not close quickly enough, phonics delivery is not consistently faithful, and teachers do not always recap prior learning. Persistent absence remains higher than leaders would like, and support plans sometimes lack precise small steps. Next steps focus on precisely identifying and adjusting strategies to remove barriers to learning and attendance, ensuring the phonics scheme is delivered consistently, and helping teachers systematically check understanding so pupils can work independently and deepen their learning. The school has a secure platform and clear capacity to address these areas.

Strengths

• Personal development and wellbeing is judged at the strong standard and underpins the school’s work.
• Highly effective relational practice and learning coaches build pupils’ confidence, resilience and trust.
• Pupils feel safe, behave well and benefit from high expectations and warm, trusting relationships.
• The school is inclusive and highly effective at understanding pupils’ barriers and working closely with families.
• Pupils benefit from an ambitious, bespoke curriculum with outdoor learning and relational sessions.
• Preparation for post-16 destinations is a notable strength and pupils are well supported into next steps.
• Safeguarding standards are met, with an open culture where safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
• All independent school standards are met.
• Parental engagement is a notable strength, and staff are seen as professional and compassionate.
• Pupils enjoy meaningful volunteering, Duke of Edinburgh, outdoor activities and talent development.
• Bullying is very rare, and pupils support one another across the age range.
• Leaders have a clear vision and staff feel well supported with workload and wellbeing.

Areas for Improvement

• Persistent absence remains higher than leaders would like.
• Some pupils’ gaps in reading, writing and mathematical knowledge do not close quickly enough.
• The school’s phonics scheme is not yet delivered with consistent fidelity.
• Small steps required for pupils to catch up are not always precisely mapped out.
• Weaknesses in handwriting and spelling are not systematically addressed.
• Teachers do not always recap prior learning needed for the lesson, reducing pupils’ ability to work independently.
• Assessment of pupils’ progress is more well-embedded in some areas than others.
• Support plans sometimes lack clearly defined small steps to ensure targets are ambitious and achievable.
• Staff pedagogical expertise, including in phonics teaching, needs further development.

In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at Belong School Devon 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 Belong School Devon's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Belong School Devon is Expected standard, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was Belong School Devon last inspected by Ofsted?

Belong School Devon was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does Belong School Devon have?

Belong School Devon has 66 pupils on roll.

What age range does Belong School Devon cover?

Belong School Devon for pupils aged 11 to 17.

What are Belong School Devon's GCSE results?

In 2025 its average Attainment 8 score was 12.8, and 11% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Belong School Devon?

Belong School Devon is at Grace Road West, Marsh Barton, Exeter, Devon, EX2 8PU.