Polden Bower School

State-Funded School

polden-bower-school-somerset-south-west

South WestRegion

SomersetLocal Authority

BridgwaterConstituency

TA6 4GUPostcode

0.7

Academic Performance

Ofsted

About the School

Polden Bower School is a state-funded special for pupils aged 4–19, located in Somerset, South West.

The school is rated Good by Ofsted. It currently serves 260 pupils.

Ofsted Rating

Safeguarding effective

Yes

Rating last maintained

2024

Subject Areas

Leadership &management

Good

Quality ofeducation

Good

Personaldevelopment

Outstanding

Behaviour &attitudes

Outstanding

Early yearsprovision

Good

Sixth formprovision

Good

Academic Performance

Well below average

Ranked against secondary schools in England · 2024-25

Attainment 8: 0.5
EBacc average point score: 0

Ethnicity

White

93%

Asian

Black

<1%

Mixed

Any other group

<1%

Unclassified

Pupils

260

Total Pupils

65%Boys

35%Girls

Pupil Characteristics

Free school meals

43%

England average

27%

First language not English

England average

22%

Young carers

England average

0%25%50%75%100%

DfE school census, January 2026.

Key Information

Phase: Special
Age range: 4 – 19
Deprivation band: Deprived
Total pupils: 260
IDACI quintile: 4 (Less deprived)

Inspection history

2 graded inspections published by Ofsted. Ungraded and monitoring visits are not shown.

Report published					Overall
23 Jun 2024	Good	Good	Outstanding	Outstanding	Good
21 May 2015	Good	Not reported in this inspection	Not reported in this inspection	Not reported in this inspection	Good

A grey dot means Ofsted did not report that judgement in the inspection of the day — the sub-judgements shown here were introduced with the 2019 framework.

Ofsted data as at 31 December 2024. A school may have been inspected since, or had an ungraded visit that does not change its grade — check Ofsted’s own record.