Coombe House School
Coombe House School, Donhead St Mary, Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, SP7 9LPOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Coombe House School is a special school in Shaftesbury for ages 5 to 19. It is one of the 262 schools in Wiltshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in July 2025.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 1 July 2025, report published 7 September 2025
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 1 July 2025
Coombe House School is a vibrant place to learn. Pupils arrive each morning with enthusiasm. The atmosphere in classrooms and around corridors is calm and positive. Pupils are happy, safe and behave well. They trust staff to support and guide them. All pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities and an education, health and care plan. Many pupils have faced significant challenges in their education before joining the school. Staff take time to understand each pupil's needs well. They use this knowledge effectively to build strong and trusting relationships with pupils. Pupils feel valued and know that they are appreciated and belong. Many pupils recognise the positive difference this school is making in their lives. Bespoke support is on hand for pupils when they need it. For example, the school provides a range of sensory spaces and quiet zones. This helps pupils develop a range of skills and practices to manage their senses. Pupils meet staff's high expectations academically, socially and emotionally. They enjoy learning and take pride in their work. They value the rewards they receive for their perseverance and success. Pupils enjoy social times. Staff support pupils in interacting with each other and making friends.
What the school should improve
- The school has not ensured that staff's teaching expertise is fully developed in all subjects. The important information pupils need to know is not made sufficiently clear. Consequently, the teaching in some areas of the curriculum does not help some pupils learn as securely as they could. The school should ensure that all staff have the teaching expertise to deliver the curriculum as intended.
- Occasionally, the checks on pupils' understanding of new material do not identify misconceptions and gaps. This means some pupils move on before they are ready. They do not build learning securely over time. The school should ensure that staff have the knowledge and expertise to use assessment to spot gaps and then inform teaching so that it supports pupils to build their knowledge cumulatively across the curriculum.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
24 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
145 pupils on roll, with places for 200
Schools near Coombe House School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yewstock School | 8 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| The Forum School | 8 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Not published |
| Marchant Holliday School | 12 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
| Aurora Beeches School | 13 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 5.4 |
| The Luccombe Hub | 14 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 5 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr Darren Harte
- Phone
- 01747449820
- Address
- Coombe House School, Donhead St Mary, Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, SP7 9LP
- Local authority
- Wiltshire
- URN
- 149019
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.