Samuel Cody School, Farnborough

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Samuel Cody School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Pupils have many chances to learn and grow, in lessons and through school life."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically join the school with very low starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils are happy at school and most attend regularly."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders understand what is working well and what more they need to do to develop the curriculum across the different parts of the school."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff are ambitious for what pupils can achieve."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors are ambitious for the school and its pupils."

Early years - Needs attention. "Children in the early years do not do as well as they should."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "The school should ensure that assessment in the early years takes account of children's specific starting points and abilities so that staff can match learning activities more precisely to each child's individual needs"; "The school should continue to strengthen pupils' communication and language development so that pupils make more rapid progress from their starting points".

In its own words: "Samuel Cody covers the catchment area of Rushmoor & Hart. We also have pupils from other boroughs and those who join us from across the County borders. All pupils must have an Education Health Care Plan. Our school welcomes a wide range of special needs."

The nearest other special schools to Samuel Cody School are Henry Tyndale School (0.9 miles, Outstanding); Hawley Woods School (1.1 miles); Napier School (2.2 miles); and Carwarden House Community School (2.6 miles, Good).

Of the 26 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 96% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 92% to a further education college.

41.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%), Asian (11%) and Mixed (7%).

Almost every pupil at Samuel Cody School has an education, health and care plan (352 of 352 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.

Samuel Cody School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.

The nearest railway station is Farnborough (Main) Rail Station, about 1100 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chaucer Road (opposite), 150 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 239 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hampshire (72), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Samuel Cody School issued 15 suspensions, 4.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.