The Mendip School is a special free school in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, for children and young people aged 4 to 19. It supports speech and language and autism.
- Ages 4–19
- 151 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
School details
- Type
- Special free school
- Ages
- 4 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 151 (places for 152)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Natalie Hanna (Executive Principal)
- Part of
- The Partnership Trust
- Opened
- 1 September 2015
- Free school meals
- 38.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Somerset
- School reference (URN)
- 142118
Needs it supports
2 needs: speech and language, autism
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
- Autism Other schools for this in Somerset (16)
- Speech, language and communication Other schools for this in Somerset (7)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Somerset council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Free home-to-school transport is often part of the arrangement.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Good, July 2018; school remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (October 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in July 2018. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, October 2023).
Contact and getting there
Edmund Rack Road, Prestleigh, Shepton Mallet, BA4 4FZ
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted report card (2025) 6.6 miles
- Newbury Manor School Independent · Ages 6–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 7.4 miles
- St Dunstan's School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 8.2 miles
By need in Somerset: Autism (17) · Moderate learning (14) · Severe learning (10) · Speech and language (8) · PMLD (7) · SEMH (6) · Dyslexia and SpLD (4) · Hearing (4) · Vision (4) · Multi-sensory (3) · Physical (2)
Questions about The Mendip School
How do I get a place at The Mendip School?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult The Mendip School. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does The Mendip School support?
Speech, language and communication and autism. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does The Mendip School take?
Aged 4 to 19, boys and girls.
What is The Mendip School’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2023 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is The Mendip School?
Edmund Rack Road, Prestleigh, Shepton Mallet, BA4 4FZ, in Somerset.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.