Compass Community School Aylward Park, Leiston
Compass Community School Aylward Park is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 17 in Leiston. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2025. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2026 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Compass Community School Aylward Park in detail
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Compass Community School Aylward Park has an education, health and care plan (9 of 9 in 2026).
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Compass Community School Aylward Park.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Car Park (adjacent), 180 metres away.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months 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 Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school demonstrates strong planning for its expansion, with experienced staff trained to support pupils with SEND and a carefully designed curriculum matched to individual needs. Leaders have created bright, well-resourced learning spaces and invested in safeguarding systems appropriate for younger pupils. The school offers enrichment through trips linked to subjects studied and therapy sessions to build pupil confidence and self-esteem.
Key Strengths
- Strong leadership with appropriate knowledge and expertise in managing independent school standards and SEND provision
- Well-designed curriculum tailored to individual pupils' needs with focus on reading, writing and mathematics
- Experienced staff with training programmes and quality assurance processes to support teaching
- Effective safeguarding with knowledgeable leaders, timely staff training, and prompt action on concerns
- Thoughtfully designed premises with suitable classrooms, inviting outdoor spaces, and specialist areas for therapy and interventions
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective with knowledgeable leaders ensuring staff receive timely training, staff raising concerns quickly, and leaders taking prompt action including seeking support from external agencies.
Extracurricular Activities
Educational trips linked to subjects studied, social communication and therapy sessions, physical education lessons including outdoor activities
Compass Community School Aylward Park is applying to expand from 12 to 48 pupils and extend its age range to include key stage 2 pupils with special educational needs. The school is likely to meet all relevant independent school standards if these changes are approved.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Keep up with Compass Community School Aylward Park
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 10 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 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 Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 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
19%
Available places
9 pupils
48 places
39 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Leiston
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Leiston
Across Suffolk council
Places available
8,475
Applications
7,204
Got 1st preference
92.7%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All secondary applications across Suffolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Compass Community School Aylward Park is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
9
Total Pupils
8
Boys
1
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Compass Community School Aylward Park
Questions parents ask about Compass Community School Aylward Park
What is Compass Community School Aylward Park's Ofsted rating?
Compass Community School Aylward Park's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2025, it was rated Good.
Does Compass Community School Aylward Park meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in July 2025, Compass Community School Aylward Park met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Compass Community School Aylward Park?
Compass Community School Aylward Park has around 9 pupils on roll.
Does Compass Community School Aylward Park have specialist SEN provision?
Compass Community School Aylward Park is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Compass Community School Aylward Park?
Compass Community School Aylward Park 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 Compass Community School Aylward Park?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 10 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 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 Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Compass Community School Aylward Park?
Compass Community School Aylward Park is at Crown Street, Leiston, Leiston, IP16 4AX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)