Polden Bower School
Bower Lane, Bridgwater, TA6 4GUOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Polden Bower School is a special school in Bridgwater for ages 4 to 19. It is one of the 301 schools in Somerset. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 21 May 2024, report published 23 June 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 21 May 2024
Polden Bower is a community hub for its families. Pupils love coming to school. They attend very well. They benefit from caring and skilled staff who build positive, trusted relationships with them. The curriculum is designed carefully to meet the diverse needs of pupils. It is particularly effective in helping pupils acquire early language, communication, reading and interaction skills. Pupils thrive because their needs are met effectively. As a result, pupils are very well prepared for their next steps when they leave the school. The school has established highly effective systems for managing and supporting pupils' behaviour. Children often arrive in Reception with a limited ability to play, interact and make sense of the world around them. Effective plans and strong relationships transform this. Pupils' behaviour improves significantly over time. By the time they leave, pupils are very well prepared for adulthood. Pupils' talents, interests and social opportunities are nurtured considerably. Pupils learn about other cultures, religions and beliefs. They contribute to their school and local community in a range of ways. The school puts on family events out of hours and at the weekends. Many parents speak positively about these events and the support they get from the school.
What the school should improve
- The curriculum is not consistently ambitious across all subjects. This means that occasionally pupils do not learn as much as they could. The school should refine curriculum planning and implementation so that they are consistently strong across all subjects.
- Some of the improvements the school is looking to make to the curriculum and to systems in the school are not yet established. The school should continue to embed its plans so that leaders' vision, policies and practices are fully realised.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
13 pupils took the tests
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
17 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
260 pupils on roll, with places for 200
Schools near Polden Bower School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petherton Park School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Inaura School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 3.6 |
| Cambian Somerset School | 7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 4.7 |
| Selworthy Special School | 7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Park House School | 7 miles | Report card: Expected standard to exceptional | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Foundation special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Helen Farnell (Executive Headteacher) Ryan Parker-Binns (Head of School)
- Phone
- 01278496386
- Address
- Bower Lane, Bridgwater, TA6 4GU
- Local authority
- Somerset
- URN
- 123938
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.