Westbury School, Shropshire
Westbury School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Shropshire. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2025. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Westbury School in detail
Westbury School in its own words
In its own words: "Lottie is a Labrador x golden retriever and is 10 months old. Lottie is fabulous at her job, she is so gentle and quiet with our young people, she supports them to learn and develop in so many ways. Lottie Provides companionship and emotional support to our young people and everyone who meets her loves her."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
What parents say
11 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Westbury 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 their child is happy at the school (100%).
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Westbury School has an education, health and care plan (18 of 18 in 2026).
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Westbury School.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Crossroads (adjacent), 360 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft and 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 · 11 months 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 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Westbury School excels at providing a small, nurturing learning environment specifically designed for pupils who struggle in mainstream education. The school demonstrates exceptional attention to individual pupil needs through thorough, regularly updated risk assessments and comprehensive safeguarding practices. Staff are well-qualified and trained, and the school maintains a calm, positive atmosphere with excellent facilities that support focused learning.
Key Strengths
- Comprehensive safeguarding policy fully implemented with staff receiving thorough training and a transparent, proactive safeguarding culture across the school
- Individual risk assessments for pupils are meticulously compiled and treated as live documents, regularly updated to reflect evolving needs
- Well-established health and safety policies with routine site checks, fire safety procedures regularly audited, and appropriate staffing levels for the proposed increase
- Bright, well-maintained classrooms with excellent acoustic conditions and a calm, positive learning environment
- Rigorous and thorough approach to safe recruitment of staff with accredited training for proprietor and headteacher
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - the school has fully implemented a suitable safeguarding policy reflecting up-to-date guidance, with staff demonstrating clear understanding of their responsibilities and a transparent, proactive safeguarding culture embedded across the school.
Extracurricular Activities
Woodland provision area
Westbury School is an independent special school for pupils aged 11-18 with education, health and care plans, many of whom have experienced school avoidance. The school is likely to meet all relevant independent school standards following its proposed expansion from 20 to 25 pupils.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
11 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby schools
Keep up with Westbury 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
72%
Available places
18 pupils
25 places
7 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Shropshire
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Shropshire
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.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
18
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Westbury 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
18
Total Pupils
9
Boys
9
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about Westbury School
What are GCSE results like at Westbury 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 Westbury School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Westbury School's Ofsted rating?
Westbury School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2025, it was rated Good.
Does Westbury School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in June 2025, Westbury School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Westbury School?
Westbury School has around 18 pupils on roll.
Does Westbury School have specialist SEN provision?
Westbury School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Westbury School?
Westbury 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 Westbury 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 Westbury School?
Westbury School is at School Lane, Westbury, Shropshire, SY5 9QZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)