Compass Community School Pinetree Park, Lewes

Special
Other independent special school
Mixed
Christian
Ages 1019

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Thomas Parks
Pupils:13 / 22 capacity
LA:East Sussex
Phone:01273091170
Address:Newhaven Road, Lewes, Lewes, BN7 3NF
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:5 March 1982

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 1 year ago
-

Overall

Inspected 16 July 2025View full report
URN:114660
UKPRN:10016898
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Lewes
Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Owlswick School creates a warm, respectful environment where staff support pupils with complex needs including trauma and fractured education histories. The school has significantly reduced bullying through strong personal, social and health education and a well-structured day. With recent environmental improvements and experienced staff, the school balances empathy with clear expectations to help pupils thrive.

Key Strengths

  • Strong safeguarding culture with secure arrangements and responsive leadership to pupils' vulnerabilities
  • Positive behaviour management approach balancing empathy with high expectations, resulting in rare bullying incidents
  • Well-maintained premises with recent improvements including outdoor gym equipment
  • Established procedures for staff suitability checks and safer recruitment
  • Experienced teaching staff providing stability and expressing positive views about school improvements

Areas for Improvement

  • History of frequent headteacher changes, though proprietor is taking steps to recruit and retain stable senior leadership
  • Need to manage expansion gradually while maintaining positive school atmosphere, given past tensions from small pupil community

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is effective with secure arrangements, detailed record-keeping, prompt action on concerns, and systematic procedures for investigating allegations about adults.

This is a material change inspection report for Owlswick School, an independent special school for pupils aged 10-19 with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the proposed expansion is implemented.

At a Glance

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

0.0

Avg class size

0

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Wellgreen Lane (opp)
87m · 1 min walk
Swanborough Hollow (N-bound)
519m · 8 min walk
The Holdings (adj)
618m · 10 min walk
Iford and Kingston School (o/s)
689m · 11 min walk
Sports Ground (adj)
808m · 13 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

59%

Available places

13 pupils

22 capacity

9 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Lewes

High pressure
New homes approved:955
Projected new pupils:172

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Lewes

Admissions Demand - East Sussex

Low demand0.90x oversubscription

Places available

5,548

Applications

4,976

Got 1st preference

86.1%

Got preferred school

96.5%

Secondary admissions across East Sussex (2025/26)

Inspection History(9)

16 July 2025
3 October 2023
29 June 2021

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SEN Provision

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Pupil Demographics

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