Copper Fields School, Gunnislake
Copper Fields School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 16 in Gunnislake. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2026, ended in a report card: 2 strong standard and 4 expected standard.
- Ofsted report card
- 2 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Copper Fields School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades Copper Fields School on 6 areas: 2 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils' attendance significantly improves at the school."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "The school has a deep understanding of pupils' needs and barriers to learning."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Many pupils arrive at the school with significant gaps in knowledge."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The ‘Copper curriculum' sets out clear pathways for pupils."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The proprietor maintains clear and effective oversight of the school."
Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school provides a wide range of opportunities for pupils."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teaching expertise is developed. This will support pupils to get more opportunities to apply and extend their knowledge in reading, writing and mathematics".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Copper Fields School are The Lowen School (0.8 miles, Outstanding); Quay View School (1.5 miles, Good); Castlebridge School (3.8 miles); and Tor View School (5.2 miles, Good).
The Lowen SchoolQuay View SchoolCastlebridge SchoolTor View School
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Copper Fields School has an education, health and care plan (26 of 26 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Gunnislake Rail Station, about 340 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Moorland Way (s-bound), 10 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 5 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14).
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 · 8 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Copper Fields School
Copper Fields School is a welcoming and happy place in which to learn. Pupils are part of a nurturing community where every individual is known well and valued. Many have experienced disrupted or negative educational journeys before joining the school. Staff take the time to build trusting relationships with pupils and to understand their needs closely. Pupils settle quickly and receive the support they need to succeed. They demonstrate positive attitudes to learning and benefit from a calm, respectful environment. Leaders resolve any bullying concerns quickly. Pupils learn to recognise their strengths and to feel proud of who they are. Each day begins positively. Staff greet pupils warmly and help them settle into school routines. Communication and language development is at the heart of the school. Pupils are given the tools they need to communicate well, including those who are nonverbal. Pupils trust that staff will help them if they have any worries. This helps them to feel safe and secure. The school's ‘Copper Culture' is woven through daily life. Pupils explore the values of ‘creativity, opportunity, perseverance, potential, equality and respect' in depth. They understand how these support their success. Pupils enjoy celebrating their achievements during ‘Copper Time'. This daily activity gives them opportunities to reflect on their achievements. They feel proud of their own successes. Pupils enjoy a range of experiences to prepare them for life beyond the school. For example, they visit local shops, cafes and churches. This promotes a sense of belonging to the community. Pupils are encouraged to contribute, including through pupil-led clubs such as chess. They develop their interests and friendships. Parents and carers speak highly of the difference the school makes to their child's life.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that teaching expertise is developed. This will support pupils to get more opportunities to apply and extend their knowledge in reading, writing and mathematics.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 3 February 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Copper Fields School excels at helping pupils who have experienced disrupted education settle in and thrive. The school has created a genuinely inclusive environment where every child is known well, valued and supported with therapeutic approaches that are consistently applied by all staff. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the transformational difference the school makes to their child's life and wellbeing.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional attendance and behaviour culture with personalised support that makes pupils want to come to school
- Outstanding inclusion practices with therapeutic support woven into daily routines and highly effective partnerships with external professionals
- Strong safeguarding with an open culture where all staff take responsibility and pupils feel safe
- Excellent pastoral care and relationships that help pupils build confidence and trust, especially those with disrupted educational histories
- Comprehensive personal development opportunities including life skills, community involvement and careers guidance
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils need more opportunities to practise and apply their learning, particularly in writing and number fluency
- Teaching expertise should be further developed to help pupils make maximum progress through the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Author visits, star reader sessions, drop everything and read sessions, pupil-led chess club, ecological projects, recycling initiatives, school car wash for charity, Christmas market, Wider World Passports, visits to local shops and cafes, community volunteering
Copper Fields School is a welcoming and nurturing place where pupils with significant additional needs settle quickly and thrive. The school has strong systems for inclusion, attendance and behaviour, with staff who understand and support each child's individual needs exceptionally well.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby schools
Latest from Copper Fields School
Max, our very own published Author!
15 Jul 2026
Star Readers
15 Jul 2026
Our visit to Market Hall, Plymouth
7 Jul 2026
Remembrance Day 2025 11th November 2025
11 Nov 2025
From Copper Fields School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Copper Fields School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 5 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 Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 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
43%
Available places
26 pupils
60 places
34 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Gunnislake
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Gunnislake
Across Cornwall council
Places available
6,387
Applications
5,542
Got 1st preference
97.4%
Got preferred school
99.3%
All secondary applications across Cornwall council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
26
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Copper Fields School 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
26
Total Pupils
21
Boys
5
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Copper Fields School
How many pupils go to Copper Fields School?
Copper Fields School has around 26 pupils on roll.
Does Copper Fields School have specialist SEN provision?
Copper Fields School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Copper Fields School?
Copper Fields School 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 Copper Fields School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 5 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 Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Copper Fields School?
Copper Fields School is at Delaware Road, Drakewalls, Gunnislake, Cornwall, PL18 9EH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)