Mill Ford School
Rochford Crescent, Ernesettle, Plymouth, PL5 2PYOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Mill Ford School is a special school in Plymouth for ages 3 to 19. It is one of the 103 schools in Plymouth. Its latest Ofsted rating is Outstanding, from an inspection in June 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 26 June 2024, report published 22 July 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Outstanding
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Sixth form provision
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 26 June 2024
Mill Ford School caters for pupils with complex support needs and severe learning difficulties. The school provides exceptionally well for pupils' communication needs. Throughout the school day, pupils use a range of communication aids to make choices and express preferences. This helps pupils to have a voice and develop their confidence. Pupils learn in increasingly formal ways, as appropriate to their development. Some pupils engage with the world through sensory experiences. Others take delight in learning phonics and go on to become confident and fluent readers. Students in the sixth form have every opportunity to develop skills to thrive as adults. Parents value the wide range of activities that pupils have the chance to do, including in the local community. Pupils know and trust the staff who work with them day to day. They feel safe at school and attend very well. During lessons, there is a happy buzz as pupils have a go and get involved. They know they are expected to try their best and they do. The school council plays an important part in improving the school. Pupils on the school council help leaders to solve difficult problems. They make a real difference, for example by helping to set up trips to a local farm and a theme park.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
8 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
149 pupils on roll, with places for 108
Schools near Mill Ford School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook Green Centre for Learning | 0.6 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Attainment 8: 4.9 |
| Mount Tamar School | 0.8 miles | Report card: Urgent improvement to needs attention | Not published |
| Woodlands School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Courtlands School | 2 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 0% met the expected standard |
| Fountain Head House School | 3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Community special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Claire Wills
- Phone
- 01752300270
- Address
- Rochford Crescent, Ernesettle, Plymouth, PL5 2PY
- Local authority
- Plymouth
- URN
- 113651
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.