Chances Educational Support Services, Dawlish
Chances Educational Support Services is an independent school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Dawlish. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Chances Educational Support Services in detail
Chances Educational Support Services in its own words
In its own words: "Chances is an OFSTED registered, short-term alternative education provision for students who, for a range of reasons, are struggling in their mainstream school. We are an early intervention provision that offers a pause button. In a safe, inclusive environment students develop the *resilience they need and learn to *respect themselves and others in order to return to a mainstream setting."
From the headteacher's welcome: "As Headteacher, I am incredibly proud to lead a school that is committed to transforming the lives of young people who need a different approach to education. Chances is an OFSTED-rated Good school, providing high-quality alternative provision for students who, for a range of reasons, have found it difficult to thrive in mainstream education."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Chances Educational Support Services are Trinity School (2.7 miles) and St Peter's Preparatory School (5 miles).
Who goes there
In 2026, 7 pupils (35%) received SEN support and 7 (35%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Dawlish Rail Station, about 730 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sandy Lane Car Park (nw-bound), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 96 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Devon (16), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Chances Educational has a successful approach to working with pupils who have struggled in their previous schools. Many pupils arrive reluctant to learn. Staff get to know pupils on an individual level. They find out about their likes and dislikes and what they are good at. As a result, pupils feel understood, settle in quickly and re-engage positively with learning.
Staff get the best from pupils. Well-established routines give pupils predictability. For example, morning 'check ins' help staff reduce pupils' anxieties. Staff make breaktimes friendly and sociable occasions. Pupils and staff eat together and enjoy playing games such as pool and football. These times provide a safe space for pupils to talk to and share any worries with staff.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
At Chances Educational Support Services, many pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). When a pupil joins the school, staff assess their needs straight away. This includes assessments of pupils' academic and social needs. Staff use this information to develop personalised targets for the short period of time pupils attend the school. These targets are appropriate and gradually build pupils' confidence, self-belief and resilience. Pupils' attitudes to learning improve quickly. As a result, a significant majority of pupils reintegrate successfully back into mainstream education.
The school has designed a relevant curriculum. In core and vocational subjects, staff demonstrate secure subject knowledge. They take every opportunity to weave basic skills into lessons. For example, pupils use their mathematical knowledge to measure ingredients when cooking. Staff break down learning into small, manageable steps. This helps pupils learn new concepts and build their knowledge systematically. However, in a minority of subjects, pupils do not build up a rich body of knowledge. This is because the school has not identified the most essential knowledge that pupils need to learn in a coherent way.
From Ofsted's May 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Keep up with Chances Educational Support Services
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 14
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 10 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot.
6 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 Devon is 3 (the median across 426 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
33%
Available places
20 pupils
60 places
40 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Dawlish
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Dawlish
Across Devon council
Places available
7,788
Applications
7,251
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All secondary applications across Devon council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
7
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
70.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
20
Total Pupils
12
Boys
8
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Chances Educational Support Services
Questions parents ask about Chances Educational Support Services
What is Chances Educational Support Services's Ofsted rating?
Chances Educational Support Services was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024.
Does Chances Educational Support Services meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in May 2024, Chances Educational Support Services met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Chances Educational Support Services?
Chances Educational Support Services has around 20 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Chances Educational Support Services?
Chances Educational Support Services is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Chances Educational Support Services?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 10 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot. 6 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 Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Chances Educational Support Services?
Chances Educational Support Services is at Red Rock, Sandy Lane, Dawlish, Devon, EX7 0AF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)