Mayfield School, Torquay
Mayfield School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Torquay. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Mayfield School in detail
Mayfield School in its own words
In its own words: "Mayfield School does not have any facilities to look after children who are sick. If a child is unwell during the school day, school will ask the parent/carer to collect their child. It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to collect their child promptly."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Mayfield School are Combe Pafford School (0.1 miles, Good); Eat That Frog C.I.C (2 miles, Good); Glendinning Academy (3.5 miles, Good); and Brunel School (4.1 miles).
Combe Pafford SchoolEat That Frog C.I.CGlendinning AcademyBrunel School
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
55.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 3.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Mayfield School has an education, health and care plan (301 of 304 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Mayfield School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Torre Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Teignmouth Road (ne-bound), 190 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 89 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Torbay (245).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Mayfield School issued 16 suspensions, 6.1 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; 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 agoThis judgement is from February 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils thrive at Mayfield School. With support and encouragement, pupils build their independence, resilience and confidence. The school listens to pupils and their parents and carers to help meet pupils' needs. Opportunities for pupils to develop their communication, personal, social and emotional skills, and knowledge, are carefully considered throughout the curriculum.
All pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils enjoy attending school at one of the three sites that best meets their additional needs. Positive relationships between staff and pupils are rooted in respect. Clear expectations and support for pupils' behaviour help them to feel safe and happy.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Governors and staff have a shared passion, dedication and expertise to continue the school's mission to develop as a 'centre for excellence' for SEND. Governors challenge and support the school to ensure every child has the provision to 'be the best they can be'. The school's work extends beyond its pupils. The school provides support and advice for pupils with SEND in mainstream schools in the local area.
Regular meetings to discuss pupils' learning consider their behaviour, attendance, safeguarding and medical information. Education, health and care (EHC) plans, home visits and frequent communication with parents inform pupils' individual 'access to learning' plans. Leaders and external professionals ensure staff accurately understand the barriers to learning pupils face and how to help pupils to overcome them. A new online assessment tool is helping the school to consider all this information in one place. This tool has started to support the school's efficient and precise use and monitoring of assessment information.
From Ofsted's June 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.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its February 2019 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
55.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEMH, SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 8% to 3% (2024 to 2025), while maths has declined from 4% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Mayfield School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Mayfield School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Mayfield School is in Torbay; for families living there:
Apply to Torbay for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 0 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 Torbay is 18 (the median across 47 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
152%
Over capacity
304 pupils
200 places
104 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Torquay
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Torquay
Across Torbay council
Places available
1,759
Applications
1,279
Got 1st preference
79.7%
Got preferred school
92.9%
All secondary applications across Torbay council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
3
SEN Support
301
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Mayfield School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, 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
304
Total Pupils
216
Boys
88
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
56
Teachers
5.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,934
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.0%
Overall absence
36.2%
Persistent absence
232
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
Questions parents ask about Mayfield School
What are SATs results like at Mayfield School?
Of the pupils at Mayfield School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 3% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Mayfield School's Ofsted rating?
Mayfield School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Mayfield School?
No fixed boundary. When Mayfield School is oversubscribed, Torbay allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Mayfield School?
Mayfield School has around 304 pupils on roll. 56% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Mayfield School have specialist SEN provision?
Mayfield School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Mayfield School?
10% of sessions were missed at Mayfield School in 2024/25. 36.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Mayfield School?
Apply through Torbay's coordinated admissions process, naming Mayfield 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 Mayfield School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 0 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 Torbay is 18 (the median across 47 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Mayfield School?
Mayfield School is at Moor Lane, Watcombe, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 8NH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)