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OpenOfsted: GoodURN 123938

Polden Bower School

Foundation special school · Bridgwater · TA6 4GU

Ages 4–19 · 260 pupils · Somerset

School website

Ofsted

Good

Overall absence

9.8%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2024-05-21

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)0%
Higher standard (RWM)0%

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence9.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)29.6%
Unauthorised2.4%
Authorised absence
7.4%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.6%
Enrolments in measure
196

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill120%

260 pupils · 200 places

Pupils on roll
260
Boys / girls
168 / 92
School capacity
200
Capacity fill
260 / 200 (130%)
Free school meals
42.4%
FSM pupils
103
Gender
Mixed
School type
Foundation special school

Age range

Ages 4–19

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Supported by a trust
Federation
Bower Learning Partnership
Headteacher
Mrs Helen Farnell (Executive Headteacher) Ryan Parker-Binns (Head of School)

Location

Address
Bower Lane
Postcode
TA6 4GU
Town
Bridgwater
Local authority
Somerset
District
Somerset
Constituency
Bridgwater
Urban/rural
Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
VI - Visual Impairment; OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability; HI - Hearing Impairment; SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Special classes
Has Special Classes

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed foundation special school, Ages 4–19, in Bridgwater, Somerset, 260 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, special school. Free school meals: 42.4%. SEN provision includes: VI - Visual Impairment; OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability; HI - Hearing Impairment….

Open schools in Bridgwater
36
Academies among open schools in Bridgwater
53% (19)
Open schools in TA6
20
Open schools in Somerset LA
307

Nearby schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BridgwaterNear TA6

  • Robert Blake School

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Foundation school · Secondary

    Bridgwater · TA6 6AW · Somerset

    Ages 11–16

    • Att838.6
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+33%
    • Absence10.5%

    0.0 miles away

  • Hamp Nursery and Infants' School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bridgwater · TA6 6JB · Somerset

    Ages 2–7

    • Absence9.8%
    • FSM25.8%

    0.1 miles away

  • Hamp Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Bridgwater · TA6 6JB · Somerset

    Ages 7–11

    • KS245%
    • Absence9.1%
    • FSM48.2%

    0.2 miles away

  • Somerset Bridge Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bridgwater · TA6 6AH · Somerset

    Ages 4–11

    • KS267%
    • Absence5.3%
    • FSM27.0%

    0.6 miles away

  • Northgate Primary School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Free schools · Primary

    Bridgwater · TA6 3EU · Somerset

    Ages 2–11

    • KS266%
    • Absence5.5%
    • FSM29.2%

    0.8 miles away

  • Haygrove School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bridgwater · TA6 7HW · Somerset

    Ages 11–16

    • Att848.8
    • P80.2
    • EM5+54%
    • Absence11.6%

    0.8 miles away

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Helen Farnell (Executive Headteacher) Ryan Parker-Binns (Head of School)
Telephone
01278496386
Website
https://www.poldenbower.org.uk

Official links