Newbury Manor School

  • Special
  • Independent
  • Ages 6 to 19
Report card: Needs attention to strong standard

Newbury Manor, Newbury, Near Mells, Frome, BA11 3RGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Newbury Manor School is a special school in Frome for ages 6 to 19. It is one of the 301 schools in Somerset. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in May 2026.

Ofsted report card

Inspected 12 May 2026, report published 6 July 2026

Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.

Inclusion
Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching
Needs attention
Achievement
Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour
Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing
Strong standard
Leadership and governance
Needs attention
Post-16 provision
Needs attention
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 May 2026

Newbury Manor School is an inclusive school. Pupils quickly feel that they belong and know they are safe. Staff take the time and care required to get to know pupils’ individual needs and personalities. Staff support pupils to engage in the day-to-day life of the school and build friendships with their peers. Pupils typically behave well. Bullying and unkindness are uncommon and never tolerated. Pupils trust adults to help them to resolve any concerns. Many pupils follow a well-planned curriculum that helps them to develop their knowledge and skills. However, this is not the experience of all pupils. Consequently, some pupils do not make as much progress from their starting points as they should. Some pupils are not prepared well for their next steps in education, training or employment. Pupils and post-16 students enjoy the learning and social experiences the school provides. Most pupils attend well. Pupils and their key adults greet each other warmly each morning. Where pupils experience difficulties in attending school regularly, leaders work with families and other professionals to put support in place. Leaders go to great lengths to provide pupils and post-16 students with a broad range of experiences to develop their individual characters and interests. For example, pupils enjoy activities such as bike maintenance, railway visits, yoga and chess tournaments. Whole-school events such as ‘grounds day’ and celebrating Chinese New Year bring the school together. The school's 'peacock values' remind pupils about their responsibilities as citizens. Pupils volunteer in the community and fundraise for charities. Pupils run the redwood café for other pupils and staff to enjoy. Pupils are proud of the 'peacock coins' that they earn for their contributions to the school.

What the school should improve

  • Leaders should ensure that the formal curriculum pathway, pre- and post-16, is ambitious, well-sequenced and leads to appropriate qualifications that prepare pupils well for their next steps.
  • Leaders should ensure that teaching is consistently effective across all curriculum pathways so that pupils develop a coherent body of knowledge and skills and achieve well from their individual starting points.
  • The proprietor should ensure that the school consistently meets the independent school standards.

Pupil numbers and mix

62 pupils on roll, with places for 65

Special educational needs support0%

0%, 14.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan100%

100%, 94 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Newbury Manor School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Fosse Way School3 milesReport card: Needs attention to strong standardAttainment 8: 4.2
Critchill Special School4 milesOfsted judgements: Outstanding0% met the expected standard
Wessex Lodge School5 milesNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 3.8
North Hill House5 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standardAttainment 8: 2.9
Fromefield Manor School5 milesOfsted: GoodNot published

School details

School type
Other independent special school
Sector
Independent
Age range
6 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Dr Paul Gorham
Address
Newbury Manor, Newbury, Near Mells, Frome, BA11 3RG
Local authority
Somerset
URN
131016

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.