Compass Community School Essex, ESSEX
Compass Community School Essex is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Essex. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2024. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2026 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Compass Community School Essex in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Compass Community School Essex are Minerva Independent School (2.7 miles, Good); Shorefields School (3.1 miles, Outstanding); and Learn and Prosper School (3.2 miles).
Minerva Independent SchoolShorefields SchoolLearn and Prosper School
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Compass Community School Essex has an education, health and care plan (16 of 16 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Thorpe-le-Soken Rail Station, about 710 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tan Lane (adjacent), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 6 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).
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 · 4 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 June 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school provides an ambitious, well-planned curriculum tailored to pupils learning at different stages, with expert staff who build strong, positive relationships. It offers personalised support including specialist therapy and therapeutic spaces, alongside careful risk assessments for each pupil. The school thoughtfully integrates outdoor learning and community-based activities to support both academic and personal development.
Key Strengths
- Robust central leadership team providing effective support across curriculum, safeguarding and inclusion
- Well-sequenced, ambitious curriculum that already accommodates the proposed younger and older pupils
- Highly trained safeguarding leaders with effective systems for keeping pupils safe
- Secure premises with appropriate staff ratios and specialist therapeutic support
- Strong assessment processes that precisely match taught curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective with well-trained leaders, rapid action on concerns, and strong collaboration with external agencies to keep pupils and families safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor education, off-site visits and activities, outdoor learning in school grounds, community-based learning, individualised work-based experiences
Compass Community School Essex is applying to expand from 18 to 78 pupils across two sites and extend its age range. The inspection found 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
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby schools
Keep up with Compass Community School Essex
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 Essex is 9 (the median across 614 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
21%
Available places
16 pupils
78 places
62 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - ESSEX
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for ESSEX
Across Essex council
Places available
17,590
Applications
16,568
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
16
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Compass Community School Essex 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
16
Total Pupils
10
Boys
6
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Compass Community School Essex
What are GCSE results like at Compass Community School Essex?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Compass Community School Essex can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Compass Community School Essex's Ofsted rating?
Compass Community School Essex's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2024, it was rated Good.
Does Compass Community School Essex meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in December 2024, Compass Community School Essex met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Compass Community School Essex?
Compass Community School Essex has around 16 pupils on roll.
Does Compass Community School Essex have specialist SEN provision?
Compass Community School Essex is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Compass Community School Essex?
Compass Community School Essex 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 Essex?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Compass Community School Essex?
Compass Community School Essex is at 274 Harwich Road, Little Clacton, ESSEX, CO16 9PY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)