The Bridge Easton, Easton
The Bridge Easton is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Easton, part of The Bridge MAT Ltd. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, ended in a report card: 4 strong standard and 3 expected standard.
- Ofsted report card
- 4 of 7 areas strong or better
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
The Bridge Easton in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades The Bridge Easton on 7 areas: 4 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders expertly track and act on patterns of pupil absence."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have established a highly-inclusive culture."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders have a precise and grounded understanding of the school's strengths and priorities for improvement."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed a highly-purposeful personal development programme that enables pupils to experience a full and meaningful school life."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well from their starting points across a wide range of developmental areas."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear and accurate understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching."
Early years - Expected standard. "The curriculum is well sequenced, ensuring that children's learning experiences embrace the full spectrum of physical, social and emotional development."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to ensure that information from their checks is used consistently to inform teaching, evaluate pupils' progress and review the impact of support strategies"; "Leaders should ensure that teaching approaches are fully embedded so all staff make effective choices and adapt learning precisely to meet pupils' needs".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Bridge Easton are The Lighthouse (0.5 miles, Good); Banks House School (3 miles, Outstanding); Future Education (3.4 miles); and Eaton Hall Specialist Academy (4.5 miles, Good).
The LighthouseBanks House SchoolFuture EducationEaton Hall Specialist Academy
The trust
The Bridge Easton is one of 9 schools run by The Bridge MAT Ltd, an academy trust.
What parents say
61 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Bridge Easton (as of April 2026): 72% would recommend the school, 71% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (72%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (61%).
Who goes there
36.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 13.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Bridge Easton has an education, health and care plan (190 of 190 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of The Bridge Easton.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 6 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and other crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28).
Suspensions and exclusions
The Bridge Easton recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 7 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- Early yearsExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at The Bridge Easton
Pupils are safe and well cared for in this calm and orderly school. Staff know pupils very well and respond quickly to their needs. This helps pupils to behave well and feel comfortable and secure in their surroundings. Staff act swiftly to support pupils if they become unsettled, thus minimising disruption. Pupils learn how to regulate their emotions and, over time, become more resilient. Bullying is extremely rare. Pupils enjoy their learning. They follow the school's carefully-structured approach which helps them to engage with classroom activities, each other and the adults around them. Pupils feel and are valued because staff use consistent communication strategies to notice, listen and respond to pupils' expressions of interest and understanding. Pupils take on roles and responsibilities which develop their independence and sense of belonging. Pupils achieve well from their starting points. Pupils' steps to independence are thoughtfully planned, carefully taught and consistently celebrated. This includes everything from early communication, reading and personal care to taking bus journeys and completing qualifications. Pupils have opportunities to develop these important skills over time. Pupils enjoy a rich, varied and full school life within and beyond the classroom. This includes participation in assemblies, learning from interesting visitors and attending a range of sporting events. Leaders diligently support pupils to make the most of opportunities in the community, such as swimming, going to the shops and visiting museums. These opportunities not only support pupils to learn about the wider world, but also show them that they are capable of more than they might otherwise have believed.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should continue to ensure that information from their checks is used consistently to inform teaching, evaluate pupils' progress and review the impact of support strategies.
- Leaders should ensure that teaching approaches are fully embedded so all staff make effective choices and adapt learning precisely to meet pupils' needs
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 24 March 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Bridge Easton excels at creating a calm, nurturing environment where children with complex needs thrive. Staff know pupils exceptionally well and respond swiftly to their needs, helping them develop confidence, independence and vital life skills. The school goes above and beyond with creative enrichment activities, tailored support and genuine partnership with families to prepare pupils for adult life.
Key Strengths
- Excellent attendance and behaviour management through proactive tracking and warm relationships that reduce anxiety
- Highly inclusive culture with precisely tailored support that identifies and meets each pupil's individual needs quickly
- Strong personal development programme including trips, community experiences, workplace visits and mental health support
- Calm, predictable routines and low-distraction environments that help pupils feel secure and focused
- Effective partnership working with families, external agencies and the trust to ensure consistent, cohesive support
Areas for Improvement
- Some newer staff still developing confidence with the school's specialist teaching approaches
- Continued strengthening of classroom practice as the school grows and evolves
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Trips, clubs, rebound therapy, visiting circus, school bus route practice, workplace visits, mental health drop-ins, community participation activities
The Bridge Easton is a special school rated as meeting strong standards across most areas. The school creates a calm, inclusive environment where pupils with complex needs feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
At a Glance
36.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
61 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Bridge Easton
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Bridge Easton from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Bridge Easton is in Norfolk; for families living there:
Apply to Norfolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 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
112%
Over capacity
190 pupils
170 places
20 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Easton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Easton
Across Norfolk council
Places available
9,559
Applications
8,625
Got 1st preference
94.1%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All secondary applications across Norfolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
190
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
190
Total Pupils
138
Boys
52
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
11.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,957
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.0%
Overall absence
21.0%
Persistent absence
143
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 The Bridge Easton
What are SATs results like at The Bridge Easton?
Of the pupils at The Bridge Easton who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is the catchment area for The Bridge Easton?
No fixed boundary. When The Bridge Easton is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Bridge Easton?
The Bridge Easton has around 190 pupils on roll. 36% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Bridge Easton?
8% of sessions were missed at The Bridge Easton in 2024/25. 21% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Bridge Easton?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming The Bridge Easton 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 The Bridge Easton?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Bridge Easton?
The Bridge Easton is at Bawburgh Road, Easton, NR9 5EA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)