Fordway Centre, Ashford
Fordway Centre is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Ashford, part of Inclusive Education Trust.
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
Fordway Centre in detail
Fordway Centre in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "The Fordway Centre is a Short Stay School (Pupil Referral Unit) for primary-aged pupils who are struggling to manage in a mainstream setting. We aim to understand each child's individual needs, provide the right support, and help them develop the behaviours for learning that will enable a successful return to mainstream education, where appropriate."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting a place at Fordway Centre
Across Surrey, 90% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Surrey lodged 205 appeals against primary school offers; 135 reached a hearing and 15 succeeded (11.1% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Fordway Centre are Clarendon Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 83% reading, 76% maths); Ashford Park Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 80% reading, 71% maths); St Michael Catholic Primary School & Nursery (0.8 miles, Outstanding, 95% reading, 97% maths); and Stanwell Fields CofE Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 66% reading, 66% maths).
Clarendon Primary SchoolAshford Park Primary SchoolSt Michael Catholic Primary School & NurseryStanwell Fields CofE Primary School
The trust
Fordway Centre is one of 4 schools run by Inclusive Education Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
91.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Mixed (8%).
In 2026, 7 pupils (58.3%) received SEN support and 5 (41.7%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Ashford (Surrey) Rail Station, about 340 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Salcombe Road (opposite), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 185 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Surrey (76), as is usual near a town centre.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Fordway Centre are Thomas Knyvett College (under 0.1 miles) and The Matthew Arnold School (1.1 miles).
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Fordway Centre has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2021. Before that, as Fordway Centre (URN 124916), it was rated Outstanding in June 2016.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils thrive at this nurturing school. They are happy and calm and are fully engaged learners. Most pupils will only attend the school for a short period of time. Their planned fixed-term programme is based on the level of support they require to be ready to move back to a permanent school placement. Staff rapidly build highly effective and trusting relationships with pupils. As soon as a pupil joins the school, staff develop an in-depth understanding of how to help them. As a result, from the very start of their time here, pupils receive highly personalised and expert support for their complex special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Pupils feel safe and listened to. There are extremely high levels of mutual respect between pupils and staff. Therefore, pupils trust that adults in this school will keep them safe and do what is best for them. Pupils are proud to meet the high expectations for conduct and learning.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school's curriculum is highly ambitious. The curriculum has been carefully considered to set out the knowledge pupils need to learn. It contains skilfully constructed sequences of learning that match pupils' needs exceptionally well.
The school's robust communication system with home schools and previous settings means that staff have important information about pupils. They use this, as well as information from checks they make when pupils arrive, to make precise changes to their curriculum for each pupil. Lessons and activities are expertly planned by knowledgeable teachers. They not only rapidly fill gaps in knowledge pupils may have, but also build on their learning well. Pupils' achievement is excellent.
From Ofsted's May 2024 ungraded 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.
At a Glance
91.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Fordway Centre
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Fordway Centre.
- Kumon Ashford Middlesex Study Centre440m away · Not yet graded
- Clarendon Primary School Coaching480m away · Not yet graded
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to Fordway Centre, with their latest published grades:
- First Steps Day Nursery - Day nursery, 0.4 milesOfsted, 10 June 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Happytots Pre-school - Pre-school, 0.4 milesOfsted, 6 March 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Whizz Kids Pre-School - Day nursery, 0.4 milesOfsted report card, 15 May 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
- The Salvation Army Rainbow Pre-School - Pre-school, 0.4 milesOfsted, 23 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Little Stars - Mother & Baby Unit - Day nursery, 0.7 milesOfsted, 28 August 2019: Good overall
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Fordway Centre from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Fordway Centre is in Surrey; for families living there:
- Surrey's school travel policy: Travel Assistance Policy for under 16s
- How to apply: Apply online for under 16 travel help
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 52
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 12
- Children hurt
- 13
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 52 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 12 serious and 40 slight.
13 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 5 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
17 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 Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
50%
Available places
12 pupils
24 places
12 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Across Surrey council
Places available
13,004
Applications
11,426
Got 1st preference
89.8%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All primary applications across Surrey council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
7
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
12
Total Pupils
9
Boys
3
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
3.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,647
Mean salary
2026 data
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Fordway Centre
Questions parents ask about Fordway Centre
What is Fordway Centre's Ofsted rating?
Fordway Centre has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2021. Before that, as Fordway Centre (URN 124916), it was rated Outstanding in June 2016.
How many pupils go to Fordway Centre?
Fordway Centre has around 12 pupils on roll. 92% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Fordway Centre have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Fordway Centre: Kumon Ashford Middlesex Study Centre (440m away, registered, not yet graded) and Clarendon Primary School Coaching (480m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near Fordway Centre?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 52 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 12 serious and 40 slight. 13 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 5 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 17 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 Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Fordway Centre?
Fordway Centre is at Stanwell Road, Stanwell, Ashford, Surrey, TW15 3DU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)