Bidwell Brook School, Totnes

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades Bidwell Brook School on 8 areas: 2 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have a positive impact on pupils' attendance."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The personal development and wellbeing programme prepares pupils to be active, responsible citizens who understand core values, including fundamental British values."

Achievement - Expected standard. "The school supports pupils well to progress successfully from their starting points."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The ambitious curriculum is designed to be flexible enough to meet pupils' starting points and is underpinned by each individual's education, health and care plan."

Early years - Expected standard. "The early years classroom, Ladybirds, provides a well-designed learning environment with varied sensory and play-based activities."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school has established an inclusive culture that is woven into staff practice successfully."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders demonstrate a quiet determination."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "The sixth-form provision is structured with appropriate and ambitious outcomes and qualifications to enhance students' preparation for their next steps in education, employment or training."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to develop and strengthen the curriculum. This is in order to secure greater consistency in how the curriculum is taught and provide more detail and knowledge about how well pupils progress through the different aspects of the school's provision"; "Leaders should strengthen the precision and clarity of their oversight of the impact of actions and decisions they make. This is to inform an increasingly robust and insightful knowledge of what works most successfully in the best interest of pupils at the school"; "Leaders should continue their work to equip staff with appropriate strategies, professional learning and resources that provide the necessary skills and knowledge they need to feel confident and skilled to manage the demands of day-to-day expectations across the school".

The nearest other special schools to Bidwell Brook School are Lifeworks College (0.2 miles, Good); Redwood River School (0.3 miles); On Track Education West Yarner (0.7 miles, Good); and On Track Education Totnes (1.7 miles, Good).

Bidwell Brook School is one of 6 schools run by SENtient Trust, an academy trust.

49 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bidwell Brook School (as of April 2026): 80% would recommend the school, 80% say their child is happy there and 40% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (80%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (40%).

Of the 14 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 7% to a further education college.

49% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

Almost every pupil at Bidwell Brook School has an education, health and care plan (151 of 151 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.

Bidwell Brook School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Staverton (South Devon Railway), about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is River Dart Academy (n-bound), 230 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 8 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, burglary and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Devon (16).

In 2024/25, Bidwell Brook School issued 1 suspension, 0.7 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.