Southbrook School
Bishop Westall Road, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 6JBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Southbrook School is a special school in Exeter for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 416 schools in Devon. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 26 November 2024, report published 20 January 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Requires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 26 November 2024
Pupils enjoy school. There is a calm and orderly environment because routines are well established. Pupils behave well. They value the support of staff for their personal development. They learn how to make positive choices and respectful relationships. Pupils feel safe in school and attend school regularly. Pupils at Southbrook School have education, health and care (EHC) plans that detail how their special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) should be met. The school has designed an ambitious curriculum for pupils to learn. However, too much variation exists in how well the curriculum is taught. As a result, some pupils do not achieve well in some subjects. Positive working relationships exist between pupils, staff, parents and carers. Many parents rightly express that their children are at the heart of the school's work. Pupils appreciate the opportunities to try different experiences and develop new interests at school. The outdoor education provision helps to support the development of pupils' resilience, independence and teamwork. Pupils are proud of their achievements, such as completing the Jubilee Challenge. They relish the chance to represent their school, for example, as school councillors or Champions for Change. Older pupils value how well the school prepares their skills for life.
What the school should improve
- The school has recently developed its curriculum. Staff do not have a secure knowledge of the new curriculum's content and expectations. As a result, in some subjects, learning activities are not well matched to the intended learning outcomes. This does not help pupils to secure knowledge and understanding well enough. The school needs to support staff to develop their knowledge of the revised curriculum so that it is implemented effectively.
- The school does not routinely use assessment information to effectively adapt the curriculum to meet pupils' needs or education, health and care (EHC) plan targets. Consequently, pupils make insufficient progress through the school's curriculum. The school should ensure that staff use assessment information to make appropriate adaptations to the curriculum to improve pupils' achievement.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
29 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
140 pupils on roll, with places for 120
Schools near Southbrook School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magdalen Court School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Attainment 8: 2.5 |
| Vranch House School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
| Ellen Tinkham School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Belong School Devon | 2 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Attainment 8: 12.8 |
| The Outdoors School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Foundation special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Trust
- SENtient Trust
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr Simon Winward
- Phone
- 01392716900
- Address
- Bishop Westall Road, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 6JB
- Local authority
- Devon
- URN
- 113634
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.