Abbey Gardens School, Bury St Edmunds

Special
Other independent special school
Mixed
Ages 1116

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Headteacher Kay Park
LA:Suffolk
Phone:01284630926
Address:Beard Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6SA
Status:open
Opened:22 May 2026

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 5 months ago
-

Overall

Inspected 17 April 2026View full report
URN:152428
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Urban/Rural:Urban: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Abbey Gardens School has carefully designed its approach to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. The school creates calm, predictable learning environments with small classes and uses information from education, health and care plans to personalise teaching. The curriculum goes beyond academics to develop life skills, broaden career horizons, and build social connections through structured activities and mobile phone restrictions that encourage friendships.

Key Strengths

  • Well-established governance and quality assurance systems across the proprietor's school group with regular data-led monitoring
  • Experienced leadership team and staff who have worked together previously and understand the school's ethos and systems
  • Detailed curriculum plans including life skills, careers exposure, and British values education tailored to pupils' needs
  • Strong safeguarding policy with clear procedures, regular training, and persistent case review
  • Thoughtfully designed behaviour support with small class sizes (six pupils per class with one teacher and one teaching assistant)

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective with a comprehensive policy following statutory guidance, clear staff responsibilities, well-planned training including twice-daily briefings and weekly supervision, and persistent case review processes.

Extracurricular Activities

Structured sports and games at breaktimes, classroom elections, careers visitors, music and art activities from different communities

Abbey Gardens School is a proposed independent school that is likely to meet all independent school standards upon registration. The school plans to serve pupils with special educational needs and disabilities with a carefully planned curriculum, strong safeguarding systems, and supportive learning environment.

At a Glance

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Getting There

Bus Stops

Howard Middle School (o/s)
69m · 1 min walk
Floyd Road (opp)
125m · 2 min walk
Summers Road (opp)
248m · 4 min walk
Shops (o/s)
268m · 4 min walk
Ion Road (adj)
284m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

Area Demand Pressure - Bury St Edmunds

Low pressure
New homes approved:1,843
Projected new pupils:332

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bury St Edmunds

Admissions Demand - Suffolk

Low demand0.87x oversubscription

Places available

8,496

Applications

7,401

Got 1st preference

92.0%

Got preferred school

97.4%

Secondary admissions across Suffolk (2025/26)

Inspection History

17 April 2026

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