The Universal Farm, Midsomer Norton
The Universal Farm is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 7 in Midsomer Norton.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Universal Farm in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Universal Farm are Fosse Way School (0.7 miles, Good); Finding Futures (0.7 miles); Newbury Manor School (3.3 miles, Good); and Three Ways School (6.2 miles, Good).
Fosse Way SchoolFinding FuturesNewbury Manor SchoolThree Ways School
Who goes there
The Universal Farm is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of The Universal Farm.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Valley Walk (s-bound), 200 metres away.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Universal Farm offers a unique learning environment that combines high-quality education with therapeutic support tailored to pupils with autism and ADHD. Teachers use the farm and natural surroundings to make learning engaging and real, helping children understand concepts through hands-on experience. The school prioritizes pupil wellbeing through trained staff and structured support, ensuring each child can access the full curriculum and thrive.
Key Strengths
- Clear vision and experienced leadership team with substantial expertise in special educational needs
- Comprehensive, well-planned curriculum making effective use of the farm setting to enrich learning
- Strong safeguarding arrangements with trained designated safeguarding leads and robust systems in place
- Extensive staff training program including therapeutic interventions to support pupil wellbeing
- Well-structured approach to assessment with checkpoints to track pupil progress
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and well-considered, following statutory guidance with designated safeguarding leads in place and staff trained in Keeping Children Safe in Education and contextual safeguarding.
Extracurricular Activities
Animal care (pigs, horses, chickens), food cultivation, land conservation, visits and external visitors, celebration of cultural events (Diwali, Harvest Festival, Chinese New Year)
The Universal Farm is a proposed independent school specializing in education for pupils with autism and ADHD, set on a farm with a curriculum centered on stewardship and engagement with the natural world. The school is likely to meet all independent school standards if registered.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby schools
Keep up with The Universal Farm
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 6 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
2 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 Bath and North East Somerset is 4.5 (the median across 94 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
Area Demand Pressure - Midsomer Norton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Midsomer Norton
Across Bath and North East Somerset council
Places available
2,400
Applications
1,769
Got 1st preference
88.4%
Got preferred school
97.1%
All secondary applications across Bath and North East Somerset council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
Special educational needs provision
The Universal Farm is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Questions parents ask about The Universal Farm
Does The Universal Farm have specialist SEN provision?
The Universal Farm is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to The Universal Farm?
The Universal Farm 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 Universal Farm?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 6 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 2 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 Bath and North East Somerset is 4.5 (the median across 94 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Universal Farm?
The Universal Farm is at Manor Farm, Millards Hill, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2BW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)