Compass Community School Pinetree Park, Lewes
Compass Community School Pinetree Park is a special school for pupils aged 10 to 19 in Lewes. It has a Christian religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2023. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Compass Community School Pinetree Park in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Compass Community School Pinetree Park are Northease Manor School (1.3 miles); Downs View Special School (3.4 miles, Outstanding); and St. John's College (Brighton) (5.4 miles, Good).
Northease Manor SchoolDowns View Special SchoolSt. John's College (Brighton)
Who goes there
In 2026, 1 pupils (7.7%) received SEN support and 12 (92.3%) had an education, health and care plan.
Compass Community School Pinetree Park is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Lewes Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wellgreen Lane (opposite), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 10 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, other theft and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65).
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 · 1 year 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 July 2025 inspection report.
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
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Compass Community School Pinetree Park
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
3 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 East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 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
59%
Available places
13 pupils
22 places
9 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Lewes
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Lewes
Across East Sussex council
Places available
5,496
Applications
4,990
Got 1st preference
86.3%
Got preferred school
95.9%
All secondary applications across East Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Compass Community School Pinetree Park is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
13
Total Pupils
13
Boys
0
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 Pinetree Park
What are GCSE results like at Compass Community School Pinetree Park?
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 Pinetree Park 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 Pinetree Park's Ofsted rating?
Compass Community School Pinetree Park's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2023, it was rated Good.
Does Compass Community School Pinetree Park meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in October 2023, Compass Community School Pinetree Park met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Compass Community School Pinetree Park?
Compass Community School Pinetree Park has around 13 pupils on roll.
Does Compass Community School Pinetree Park have specialist SEN provision?
Compass Community School Pinetree Park is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to Compass Community School Pinetree Park?
Compass Community School Pinetree 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 Pinetree Park?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 3 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 East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Compass Community School Pinetree Park?
Compass Community School Pinetree Park is at Newhaven Road, Lewes, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 3NF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)