Meadow Bridge School

Meadow Bridge School is an independent special school for pupils aged 6 to 19, all of whom have an education, health and care plan. It currently has 86 pupils across two sites and specialises in social, emotional and mental health needs, autism spectrum conditions and ADHD. Inspectors judged the school to be meeting the expected standard across achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing. Safeguarding standards are met and all independent school standards are met. The school is particularly effective at giving pupils a fresh start after often disrupted or unsettled education. A carefully managed admissions and transition process helps pupils feel known and safe, and strong relationships underpin positive behaviour and improving attendance. Pupils benefit from an ambitious, broad curriculum, effective teaching adaptations, meaningful wider-curriculum projects, and strong pastoral and personal development opportunities. Many pupils achieve functional skills and GCSEs, and enrichment activities help build confidence, independence and readiness for the next stage. The main areas for development are assessment and oversight. In a small number of subjects, checks on learning do not help staff identify and address gaps as well as they could, which can slow pupils’ knowledge-building over time. Leaders also need to sharpen their analysis of some aspects of school work, including behaviour patterns, and continue developing subject leadership, monitoring and quality assurance so that curriculum expectations are applied consistently across all subjects. Overall, the school is securely at the expected standard, with no safeguarding or compliance concerns identified.

Strengths

• Effective 'connect and relate' transition helps pupils overcome substantial gaps in their prior education.
• Consistent approaches to phonics, writing and mathematics support pupils who are ready to access them.
• Pupils who stay longer achieve nationally recognised qualifications such as functional skills and GCSEs.
• Engaging wider-curriculum projects link learning to life skills and produce high-quality pupil work.
• The admissions process is highly effective and helps staff get to know pupils before they start.
• A relational, student-focused approach gives pupils a fresh start and helps rebuild self-esteem.
• Student-focused intervention plans and swift action have improved attendance for many pupils.
• Clear routines, consistent expectations and effective de-escalation strategies support positive behaviour.
• The curriculum is ambitious, broad and balanced, with detailed plans for what pupils should learn.
• Teachers adapt teaching, resources and activities well to pupils' different starting points.
• The school is inclusive, adapts the environment well and persists with every pupil.
• High-quality professional development helps staff meet pupils' special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Pastoral support and the personal, social, health and economic curriculum prepare pupils well for life.
• Enrichment, careers guidance and community links broaden pupils' horizons and build confidence.

Areas for Improvement

• Assessment checks in a small number of subjects do not help staff identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge well enough.
• Some pupils struggle to build knowledge over time because gaps in their learning are not closed quickly.
• Leaders' oversight and analysis of some aspects of school work lack precision, including analysis of behaviour patterns.
• Subject leadership, monitoring and quality assurance need further development so leaders can act swiftly on priorities.
• Curriculum expectations are not applied consistently across all subjects.

In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at Meadow Bridge 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

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What is Meadow Bridge School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Meadow Bridge School is Expected standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Meadow Bridge School last inspected by Ofsted?

Meadow Bridge School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Meadow Bridge School have?

Meadow Bridge School has 69 pupils on roll.

What age range does Meadow Bridge School cover?

Meadow Bridge School for pupils aged 6 to 19.

Where is Meadow Bridge School?

Meadow Bridge School is at The Old School House, High Street, Cricklade, Wiltshire, SN6 6DD.