Cann Bridge School, Plymouth
Cann Bridge School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Plymouth. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cann Bridge School in detail
Cann Bridge School in its own words
In its own words: "‘We Cann…’ is a positive and proactive attitude towards challenges and opportunities. It encourages learners, staff, parents, and the wider community to believe in their abilities and to act towards their goals. By repeating ‘We Cann…’ as a mantra, everyone can reinforce their belief in themselves and their ability to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Cann Bridge School, a thriving and inclusive special school with a proud history of supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Originally established as Downham School (Plymstock) in 1963, the school became Cann Bridge School in September 2012 when it relocated to its purpose-built site within the Tor Bridge Partnership in Estover."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Cann Bridge School are Courtlands School (1.3 miles, Inadequate); Woodlands School (1.8 miles, Good); Brook Green Centre for Learning (2.5 miles, Outstanding); and Longcause Community Special School (3.1 miles, Good).
Courtlands SchoolWoodlands SchoolBrook Green Centre for LearningLongcause Community Special School
What parents say
37 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Cann Bridge School (as of September 2025): 65% would recommend the school, 84% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (84%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Who goes there
39.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%), Asian (6%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at Cann Bridge School has an education, health and care plan (111 of 111 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Cann Bridge School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Plymouth Rail Station, about 3 miles away in a straight line.
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tor Bridge High (ne-bound), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 119 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Plymouth (196).
Suspensions and exclusions
Cann Bridge School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Cann Bridge School creates a warm, supportive environment where pupils thrive emotionally and develop real confidence. The school teaches practical life skills through imaginative real-world experiences - from running a café to work placements and community trips - so pupils gain the independence and resilience they'll need as adults. Staff work hard to help every pupil communicate in their own way, whether through speech, signs, symbols or technology.
Key Strengths
- Strong communication focus with pupils learning multiple systems including Makaton, alternative devices, and Braille - helping them express themselves in increasingly complex ways
- Significantly strengthened reading curriculum with many pupils, including sixth formers, now reading fluently and showing understanding of stories
- Excellent support for personal development and well-being through tailored PSHE curriculum, health professionals, and weekly enrichment activities
- Ambitious careers guidance and real-life work experience opportunities, including café work and local farm placements
- Calm, supportive school atmosphere with effective behaviour management systems and stable staffing
Areas for Improvement
- Reading and writing assessment not sharp enough - staff check progress but don't use findings to help pupils build on learning effectively
- Pupils not given sufficient opportunities to practise and apply new learning independently
- Some pupils lack adequate support to extend their writing skills
- Curriculum improvements are still early-stage and need more time to embed before pupils see full benefit
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Local half marathon, school-based café, work experience at local farm, Personal Development Club with enrichment activities including sports and games, singing and signing, instrument learning, trip to Gran Canaria
Cann Bridge School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 18 with severe and profound learning difficulties, including a sixth form provision called Post Bridge College. The school is improving rapidly with rising expectations, though more work is needed to ensure the curriculum fully supports every pupil to reach their potential.
At a Glance
39.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
37 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Cann Bridge School
August 2026
15 Aug 2026
May 2026
28 May 2026
April 2026
16 Apr 2026
February 2026
16 Feb 2026
December 2025
19 Dec 2025
October 2025
28 Oct 2025
From Cann Bridge School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Cann Bridge School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cann Bridge School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cann Bridge School is in Plymouth; for families living there:
Apply to Plymouth for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 19
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 16 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot.
10 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Plymouth is 22 (the median across 107 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
103%
Over capacity
111 pupils
108 places
3 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Plymouth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Plymouth
Across Plymouth council
Places available
3,165
Applications
2,761
Got 1st preference
91.7%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All secondary applications across Plymouth council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
111
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Cann Bridge School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
111
Total Pupils
87
Boys
24
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
6.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,408
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.6%
Overall absence
14.1%
Persistent absence
99
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Cann Bridge School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Cann Bridge School
What are SATs results like at Cann Bridge School?
Of the pupils at Cann Bridge School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Cann Bridge School's Ofsted rating?
Cann Bridge School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Cann Bridge School?
No fixed boundary. When Cann Bridge School is oversubscribed, Plymouth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Cann Bridge School?
Cann Bridge School has around 111 pupils on roll. 40% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Cann Bridge School have specialist SEN provision?
Cann Bridge School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Cann Bridge School?
7.6% of sessions were missed at Cann Bridge School in 2024/25. 14.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Cann Bridge School?
Apply through Plymouth's coordinated admissions process, naming Cann Bridge School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Cann Bridge School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 16 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot. 10 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Plymouth is 22 (the median across 107 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cann Bridge School?
Cann Bridge School is at 23 Eden Valley Gardens, Estover, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8EE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)