Fernways School, Windlesham
Fernways School is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 16 in Windlesham. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Fernways School in detail
Fernways School in its own words
Coming up: an admissions event on Tuesday 3 November 2026, an admissions event on Thursday 5 November 2026 and an admissions event on Friday 13 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Surrey
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Fernways School are Heathermount School (1.7 miles); Lift Wishmore (3.1 miles, Requires improvement); Carwarden House Community School (3.9 miles, Good); and Portesbery School (4.3 miles, Good).
Heathermount SchoolLift WishmoreCarwarden House Community SchoolPortesbery School
What parents say
18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Fernways School (as of September 2025): 56% would recommend the school, 61% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (72%); the weakest, that their child does well at the school (44%).
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Fernways School has an education, health and care plan (49 of 51 in 2026).
Fernways School 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 Bagshot Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hatton Hill (adjacent), 330 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Fernways School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 18 crimes within a mile of the school, most often criminal damage and arson, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Surrey (76).
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Fernways School creates an exceptionally positive environment where pupils with autism thrive and feel genuinely valued. Staff provide individualised support that helps pupils develop confidence and independence, while the school's ambitious curriculum and enrichment activities help prepare them well for their next steps. Parents particularly appreciate how the school goes the extra mile to remove barriers to education and make a real difference to their child's life.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional behaviour and attitudes to learning - pupils are kind, courteous and manage their emotions very effectively
- Strong reading strategy with specialist support that helps pupils catch up rapidly and develop confidence
- Excellent relationships between staff and pupils, with clear individual plans tailored to each pupil's needs
- Comprehensive personal development programme including careers guidance, visits to places of worship, and learning about keeping safe online
- Wide range of trips, visits and clubs including residentials, theatre trips, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and local sports tournaments
Areas for Improvement
- Some inconsistencies in how well the curriculum is implemented across subjects, affecting how well some pupils learn
- Strategies to develop life skills and careers programmes are still being embedded as the school grows and are not yet fully consistent
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with strong oversight and clear procedures in place to keep pupils safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Residentials, theatre trips, local sports tournaments, Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions, clubs
Fernways School is a happy and harmonious independent special school for pupils aged 7-16 with autism, where staff build extremely positive relationships and pupils feel valued and cared for. The school has strong shared values of creativity, community and confidence, with pupils making steady progress through an ambitious, broad curriculum.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
18 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Fernways 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 Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 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
102%
Over capacity
51 pupils
50 places
1 pupil over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Windlesham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Windlesham
Across Surrey council
Places available
12,569
Applications
11,986
Got 1st preference
81.3%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Surrey council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
49
EHC Plans
96.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Fernways School 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
51
Total Pupils
35
Boys
16
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Fernways School
Questions parents ask about Fernways School
What are GCSE results like at Fernways 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 Fernways School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Fernways School's Ofsted rating?
Fernways School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025.
Does Fernways School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in June 2025, Fernways School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Fernways School?
Fernways School has around 51 pupils on roll.
Does Fernways School have specialist SEN provision?
Fernways School 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 Fernways School?
Fernways 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 Fernways 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 Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Fernways School?
Fernways School is at Hatton Hill, Windlesham, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6AB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)