Dovecote School, Shapwick
Dovecote School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in Shapwick.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Dovecote School in detail
Dovecote School in its own words
In its own words: "At Dovecote School, our vision is to help students who have struggled in mainstream education reconnect with learning, rebuild their confidence, and gain the skills they need for life beyond school. We are committed to creating an environment where education is shaped around each individual, allowing every student the opportunity to succeed and make meaningful progress."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Dovecote School are The Levels School (1.2 miles); Abbot's Way School (2.8 miles); Avalon School (4.1 miles, Good); and Compton Dundon School (5.4 miles, Good).
The Levels SchoolAbbot's Way SchoolAvalon SchoolCompton Dundon School
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Dovecote School has an education, health and care plan (105 of 105 in 2026).
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Dovecote School.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Shapwick Church (e-bound), 230 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22).
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 GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted. Ofsted last inspected this school in 11 February 2025, before the latest ISI inspection.
Routine Inspection
28 April 2026
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Dovecote School excels at creating personalised learning pathways for each pupil based on their individual needs and EHC plans. The school combines strong academics with therapeutic support and teaches vital life skills for independence. Parents can be confident that their child will be in a safe, well-maintained environment with staff who are trained to identify and respond quickly to any concerns.
Key Strengths
- Personalised curriculum pathways tailored to each pupil's EHC plan with regular reviews of progress
- Effective use of assessment to establish starting points and check understanding throughout learning
- Strong safeguarding culture with regular staff training and swift action on concerns
- Excellent premises with new facilities, well-maintained buildings, and sensory-appropriate spaces
- Community engagement including a cafe, care home visits, and Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective with an up-to-date policy, robust implementation, regular staff training, close monitoring of behaviour and attendance, and timely action on concerns in partnership with external agencies.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award, community cafe, care home visits, forest school, foreign languages, arts awards
Dovecote School is a special educational needs school with an ambitious vision to prepare pupils with SEND for their next steps in life through personalised curriculum pathways and therapeutic programmes. The school is likely to meet independent school standards if its proposed material changes to expand capacity and serve older pupils up to age 19 are implemented.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Dovecote School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 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
81%
Available places
105 pupils
130 places
25 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Across Somerset council
Places available
4,902
Applications
4,659
Got 1st preference
92.1%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All secondary applications across Somerset council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
105
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Dovecote 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
105
Total Pupils
55
Boys
50
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Dovecote School
Questions parents ask about Dovecote School
What are GCSE results like at Dovecote School?
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 Dovecote School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Dovecote School last inspected?
Dovecote School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in April 2026.
How many pupils go to Dovecote School?
Dovecote School has around 105 pupils on roll.
Does Dovecote School have specialist SEN provision?
Dovecote School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Dovecote School?
Dovecote 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 Dovecote School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Dovecote School?
Dovecote School is at 21 Station Road, Shapwick, Shapwick, Somerset, TA7 9NJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)