Overton School, Ludlow
Overton School is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 18 in Ludlow.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Overton School in detail
Overton School in its own words
Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 11 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Shropshire
Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Overton School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (92%).
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Overton School has an education, health and care plan (43 of 43 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Ludlow Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Shropshire (10).
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
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Overton School excels at transforming the lives of pupils with autism and complex needs through deeply personalised teaching and an ambitious curriculum. Staff combine high expectations with sensitive, individualised support - using visual prompts, British Sign Language, and therapeutic input to help every pupil succeed. Pupils leave well-prepared for their futures with strong qualifications, confidence in themselves as learners, and aspirations for careers in areas like sports, catering, and landscaping.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional personalised approach - staff know each pupil as an individual and design curriculum precisely to their needs
- Strong therapeutic support - intensive clinical team collaboration ensures pupils' well-being while accessing ambitious learning
- Outstanding enrichment programme - musical instruments, work experience in Swiss Rhino café, tuck shop management, and peer mentoring
- Excellent reading culture with consistent routines and use of school dog to build confidence
- Warm, calm environment with consistent high expectations and strong relationships built on trust
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Learning musical instruments, work experience in Swiss Rhino café, tuck shop management, peer mentoring, British Sign Language training, student council, local community trips, off-site work experience
Overton School is an outstanding independent special school for pupils aged 7 to 18 with autism and complex needs. The school transforms pupils' lives through high expectations, individualised support, and an ambitious curriculum that enables remarkable progress.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
12 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Latest from Overton School
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze
25 Jun 2026
Neurodiversity Celebration
13 Apr 2026
British Science Week
18 Mar 2026
Fire Service Visit
6 Mar 2026
Chinese New Year
6 Mar 2026
World Book Day
6 Mar 2026
From Overton School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Overton 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 Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 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
96%
Near capacity
43 pupils
45 places
2 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Ludlow
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ludlow
Across Shropshire council
Places available
3,213
Applications
2,845
Got 1st preference
91.0%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All secondary applications across Shropshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
43
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Overton 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
43
Total Pupils
35
Boys
8
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Overton School
What are GCSE results like at Overton 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 Overton School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
How many pupils go to Overton School?
Overton School has around 43 pupils on roll.
Does Overton School have specialist SEN provision?
Overton School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Overton School?
Overton 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 Overton 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 Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Overton School?
Overton School is at Hereford Road, Ludlow, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 4AD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)