The Lowen School, Gunnislake
The Lowen School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 18 in Gunnislake. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2024.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Lowen School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Lowen School are Copper Fields School (0.8 miles); Quay View School (2.2 miles, Good); Castlebridge School (3.2 miles); and Tor View School (4.5 miles, Good).
Copper Fields SchoolQuay View SchoolCastlebridge SchoolTor View School
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at The Lowen School has an education, health and care plan (25 of 25 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Gunnislake Rail Station, about 1110 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Buccaneer Inn (e-bound), 380 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 6 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14).
Sources: 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 · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Lowen School excels at transforming children's ability to communicate and express their needs through expertly tailored approaches. Staff nurture pupils through warm, positive relationships and a carefully planned curriculum that addresses each child's unique learning needs. Pupils thrive academically and personally, leaving exceptionally well prepared for life beyond school with strong social skills and growing independence.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional approach to developing each pupil's communication skills through individualised methods like visual symbols, signing and phonics
- Highly personalised curriculum that prepares pupils exceptionally well for adult life and independent living
- Outstanding behaviour management using deep knowledge of each pupil's emotional, social, sensory and physical needs
- Strong focus on physical development through structured Forest School activities and varied physical experiences
- Extensive community engagement opportunities that develop pupils' social skills and understanding of the wider world
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Forest School, canoeing, skiing, Callington May Day celebrations, school council, local community visits to shops and parks
The Lowen School is an independent special school for pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties, many with autism. Pupils arrive having missed significant schooling but are nurtured through warm relationships and highly personalised curriculums that support their social, emotional, academic and physical development.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby schools
Keep up with The Lowen School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were 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 Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 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
78%
Available places
25 pupils
32 places
7 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Gunnislake
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Gunnislake
Across Cornwall council
Places available
6,387
Applications
5,542
Got 1st preference
97.4%
Got preferred school
99.3%
All secondary applications across Cornwall council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
25
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Lowen 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
25
Total Pupils
21
Boys
4
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about The Lowen School
What is The Lowen School's Ofsted rating?
The Lowen School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024.
Does The Lowen School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in November 2024, The Lowen School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to The Lowen School?
The Lowen School has around 25 pupils on roll.
Does The Lowen School have specialist SEN provision?
The Lowen School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to The Lowen School?
The Lowen 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 The Lowen School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were 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 Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Lowen School?
The Lowen School is at Lower Dimson Farm, Gunnislake, Gunnislake, PL18 9NS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)