Fiveways Special School, Yeovil
Fiveways Special School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Yeovil. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Fiveways Special School in detail
Fiveways Special School in its own words
In its own words: "We help children stay safe online. Has someone acted inappropriately towards you online, or to a child or young person you know? It may be sexual chat, being asked to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable or someone being insistent on meeting up."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Fiveways Special School are Fairmead School (0.8 miles, Good); Cambian Lufton College (3.1 miles, Good); and Chilton Bridge School (4.9 miles, Good).
Who goes there
51% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%), Asian (5%) and Mixed (5%).
Almost every pupil at Fiveways Special School has an education, health and care plan (100 of 100 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Fiveways Special School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Yeovil Pen Mill Rail Station, about 400 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
22 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pen Mill School (w-bound), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 309 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Fiveways Special School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils excel in all areas of their learning at Fiveways School. The curriculum enables and supports pupils to learn how to communicate their views and feelings exceptionally well. Consequently, pupils relish learning about a range of subjects. Children in the early years love listening to stories and respond with enthusiasm and joy. Students in the sixth form articulate their thoughts about the world around them very well.
Staff are very knowledgeable about the communication, learning and therapeutic needs of each pupil. Thus, each pupil, including children in the early years and students in the sixth form, learn an expertly designed curriculum that meets their specific needs. Pupils and their parents value the education provided by the school.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school is highly ambitious for all pupils. It is aspirational for pupils' social, emotional and educational development. The vision of the school enables and supports pupils, including children in early years and students in the sixth form, to engage in the world beyond school exceptionally well.
Throughout the curriculum, pupils learn how to communicate their knowledge with impressive skill. Pupils learn through highly tailored approaches to 'read' the code of visual symbols accompanied by whole words and signing with precision and success. For example, children in the early years who are nonverbal are empowered to 'read' and articulate their thinking. They respond to texts with their own personal opinions. Sixth form students are supported to communicate their ambitions for the future. The early reading curriculum is very well structured and well taught. Pupils learn to make strong connections between letters and their corresponding sounds. The curriculum transforms the life chances of pupils at the school.
From Ofsted's June 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its June 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years, Sixth form.
At a Glance
51.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2023/24KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2023/24 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby schools
Latest from Fiveways Special School
Proud Award Winners 2026
23 Jul 2026
Fiveways Festival on Friday!
29 Jun 2026
Fantastic Five - Jubilee Challenge
19 Jun 2026
Easter Bunny Hops in!
17 Apr 2026
Lots of fun on Numeracy Day
20 Mar 2026
My Future Families Session
4 Mar 2026
From Fiveways Special School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Fiveways Special School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Fiveways Special School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Fiveways Special School is in Somerset; for families living there:
Apply to Somerset for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
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 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
100%
Full
100 pupils
100 places
No spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Yeovil
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Yeovil
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.
Inspection History(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
100
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Fiveways Special School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
100
Total Pupils
69
Boys
31
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
5.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,477
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.1%
Overall absence
36.6%
Persistent absence
82
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Fiveways Special School
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Fiveways Special School
What are SATs results like at Fiveways Special School?
Of the pupils at Fiveways Special School who took the 2024 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Fiveways Special School's Ofsted rating?
Fiveways Special School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024.
What is the catchment area for Fiveways Special School?
No fixed boundary. When Fiveways Special School is oversubscribed, Somerset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Fiveways Special School?
Fiveways Special School has around 100 pupils on roll. 51% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Fiveways Special School have specialist SEN provision?
Fiveways Special School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Fiveways Special School?
13.1% of sessions were missed at Fiveways Special School in 2024/25. 36.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Fiveways Special School?
Apply through Somerset's coordinated admissions process, naming Fiveways Special School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Fiveways Special School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 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 Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Fiveways Special School?
Fiveways Special School is at Victoria Road, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 5AZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)