Forest Edge School
1 Faulkner Lane, Sandown, PO36 9AZOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Forest Edge School is a special school in Sandown for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 50 schools in Isle of Wight. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 27 February 2024, report published 2 May 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 27 February 2024
Pupils thrive and flourish at this school. Staff take time to understand each pupil's individual needs and how to best support them. As a result, there is a fully inclusive environment which pupils are at the heart of. This vision is driven by the proprietor body and lived out by all staff. The school's 'TREES' values of teamwork, resilience, enjoyment, engagement and self-confidence are understood by everyone. These underpin all that the school does and pupils are reminded of these during every session. Pupils reflect on how they have demonstrated these values. Some pupils have not been in a classroom for a long time prior to joining OEA. Here, they enjoy coming to school and are supported very well by staff, who encourage them to build relationships with their peers. Parents report that, for some pupils this is the first time they have felt a sense of belonging at a school. Staff help pupils to meet the high expectations for their behaviour. They do this by giving clear boundaries and explaining why these are important. During social times, staff engage in games and conversations with pupils, which help develop their confidence. Pupils benefit from extensive enrichment opportunities which encourage them to step out of their comfort zones and to learn from mistakes. During the inspection, a visit to Carisbrooke Castle helped pupils to develop their conversational and teamwork skills in a less familiar setting.
What the school should improve
- A few aspects of the curriculum are not planned as precisely as they could be. This means that the steps pupils need to take towards the school's ambitious endpoints are not always considered carefully enough and pupils do not learn as deeply as they could academically. The school should continue to refine the curriculum so that the pathway for each pupil towards these end points is planned with absolute precision, maximising the impact of their school experience.
Pupil numbers and mix
8 pupils on roll, with places for 20
Schools near Forest Edge School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Catherine's School and College | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 5.0 |
| Medina House School | 6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| St George's School | 6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Mary Rose Academy | 10 miles | Report card: Strong standard to exceptional | 0% met the expected standard |
| Baycroft School | 11 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 3.0 |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Ms Nicola Peace
- Phone
- 01983640630
- Address
- 1 Faulkner Lane, Sandown, PO36 9AZ
- Local authority
- Isle of Wight
- URN
- 149563
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.