Hambling View arrived in Bath as a fresh addition to the landscape of specialist education in February 2025, opening its doors just as many parents were navigating the complex process of finding appropriate secondary placements for children with Education, Health and Care Plans. Situated on the outskirts of Bath, surrounded by places of natural beauty, the school offers something deliberately scaled to the smallest learners: just 14 places across years 7-11. Head teacher Beth Rowlinson, who has recently welcomed the school's first cohort, describes Hambling View as "a place where young people flourish, families feel supported and staff love coming to work."
This is not a mainstream secondary school. Every student at Hambling View has an EHCP, and the curriculum has been fundamentally redesigned around the principle that all learning must be tailored to individual needs. The school's three core values (Achievement, Respect, and Community) guide everything from classroom instruction to pastoral structures. For families seeking a highly individualised, compassionate approach in a genuinely small setting, this new arrival warrants serious consideration.
Hambling View occupies a purpose-designed campus on Claverton Down Road, accessed via the Sulis Car Park, an arrangement that reflects the school's careful thinking about transitions and family experience. The physical environment has been thoughtfully prepared. Every member of staff, the headteacher notes, is "prepared and really excited", a genuine enthusiasm that matters in specialist provision where consistency and warmth are therapeutic in themselves.
The school operates from a vision rooted in creating safety and enabling young people to thrive. This translates into tangible practices. A dedicated breakfast club runs from 8:30 to 8:55 each morning, where students and staff gather in "a calm and nurturing environment." This simple offering reflects an understanding that many students with complex needs benefit from structured, predictable starts to the day. The school day concludes at 3:20 pm, with the timetable carefully designed to balance challenge and rest.
Beth Rowlinson's welcome message signals an approach to education that extends beyond academics. "We are all committed to supporting our young people so that they go on to become resilient and independent young adults who lead happy and successful lives." This is not aspirational rhetoric in the specialist context; it represents the authentic mission of schools serving students whose starting points and trajectories differ fundamentally from mainstream peers.
As a newly opened independent special school, Hambling View represents a deliberate choice by its proprietors, MIAG Independent Schools Ltd, to create provision specifically for young people aged 11-16 whose needs require small-scale, individualised education. The school's positioning is clear: it exists for students who already have EHCPs naming specialist provision, or whose local authority has identified them as requiring bespoke support.
The curriculum philosophy reflects this commitment to personalisation. The school explicitly describes offering "a modified curriculum for students who have prior attainments well below expected levels in all or most areas of the curriculum." This is honest language. The school is not attempting to deliver a condensed version of the national curriculum; rather, it has redesigned learning entirely around the question: what does this individual student need to develop their independence, social skills, and capacity to engage with the world?
All students at Hambling View participate in developing their own learning pathways. The school aims for every child to "develop their love of learning and their confidence in themselves as learners." Small group teaching (classes are intentionally tiny) allows teachers to respond fluidly to each student's pace and learning style. Staff motivation matters enormously in this context, and the school's recent opening means energy and coherence are evident.
The school's curriculum operates across three distinct areas: developing social interaction and independence; promoting essential maths and English skills; and creating "positive, relevant and meaningful learning experiences." This integrated approach reflects modern thinking about specialist provision, which recognises that for many learners, the distinction between "academic learning" and "life skills development" is artificial.
Students are supported to "participate in relevant, real-world learning." The school has already begun enrichment activities, with structured opportunities for young people to develop skills in contexts beyond the classroom. A dedicated vocational tutor, Michelle Floyd, works with students on practical preparation for adult life.
Staff experience and qualifications are carefully matched to student needs. The leadership team includes Molly Baker, who serves as Special Educational Needs Coordinator and Teacher, ensuring that SEND expertise is embedded at leadership level. The teaching team comprises Andrew Dix, Luke Greenwood, Daniel Mullins, and Alexandra Owen, each bringing specialist knowledge. Additional support comes from a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (Louise Perryman), an Educational and Language Support Assistant (Michelle Floyd), and a Student Mentor (Julie Russell). This staffing ratio (approximately one adult for every two students) allows for intensive personalised support.
Assessment is continuous and developmental. Rather than pursuing traditional examinations, students are tracked against individualised learning objectives, aligned to their EHCPs. Progress is measured in terms of independence gains, confidence development, and skill acquisition in areas directly relevant to their lives.
Pastoral care, the school notes, is "often intertwined with a school's ethos or philosophy, aiming to create a nurturing environment where students can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially." At Hambling View, this is not merely aspiration but structural reality.
Three members of staff are designated Safeguarding Leads, ensuring robust child protection practices and responsive welfare oversight. The school holds the Equality Quality Mark, reflecting its commitment to identifying and removing barriers to inclusion for all students.
Behaviour is managed through a clear, accessible policy that references the school's core values. The school's Bullying Statement and Anti-Bullying Policy establish zero tolerance for discrimination or harmful behaviour. Support for mental health includes links to external agencies; the school displays information for young minds' mental health support and the NSPCC helpline.
Partnership with families is positioned as central. The school explicitly states that "the partnership between home and school is a vital part of the success of our students." Parents receive regular communication about their child's learning and wellbeing, and transitions to the school are designed to be "as smooth and stress free as possible."
All students at Hambling View must have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The school does not serve students without formal SEND identification. This is a deliberate boundary: the school exists within the specialist SEND system, not as an alternative to it.
The admissions process operates through the local authority. Families or professionals who believe a child would benefit from placement at Hambling View work with Bath and North East Somerset Council's SEND team to request consideration. The local authority then assesses whether Hambling View's provision matches the student's identified needs.
Currently, the school has just begun admitting its first cohort. All 14 places are within the school's stated capacity. Transition into the school is typically gradual, allowing students and families to build confidence and understanding of the school's routines before full-time attendance.
The school operates five full terms across the academic year, aligning with Bath and North East Somerset local authority term dates for convenience of families with multiple children in different schools. The school day runs from 8:55 am (after breakfast club, which starts at 8:30 am) until 3:20 pm.
Drop-off and pick-up procedures have been carefully designed. Parents are asked to use the Sulis Car Park on Claverton Down Road, where staff direct families to bring students to the school in allocated time slots. This reduces congestion and ensures smooth transitions for young people who may find unstructured environments challenging.
The school's location on the outskirts of Bath provides access to green space and natural surroundings, which the school actively uses to support wellbeing and learning. Many students benefit from time outdoors as part of their therapeutic environment.
Term dates are:
Inset Days for 2025-26 include: Tuesday 2 September, Wednesday 3 September, Monday 3 November, Monday 5 January, and Friday 22 July. Staff planning days are built around school priorities rather than local authority harmonisation.
Hambling View is an independent school, meaning families contribute to fees. However, as a specialist SEND provider, funding models vary considerably. Many students with EHCPs have their education funded through local authority top-up arrangements, with the authority contributing toward specialist placement costs. Individual families should contact the school directly to discuss specific funding arrangements, as these depend entirely on each child's EHCP and the assessed level of specialist provision required.
The school has not published standard fee schedules on its website. Contact the school directly for enquiries.
Although the school is newly opened, enrichment forms an intentional part of provision. The school has designated an Enrichment page on its website and explicitly commits to providing "relevant, real-world learning experiences" that help students develop agency and understand their capacity to effect positive change.
Vocational development is integrated throughout the curriculum. The school employs Michelle Floyd as a vocational tutor, working with students on practical skills and preparation for transition to adulthood. This might include life skills such as managing money, using public transport, self-care, and workplace readiness.
The small cohort size means that activities can be genuinely personalised. Rather than offering a fixed menu of clubs or enrichment options, the school develops opportunities based on individual student interests and developmental needs. Some students may benefit from outdoor learning or nature-based activities, leveraging the school's location near Bath's natural spaces. Others may focus on creative expression, practical skills, or community engagement.
The school has established clear pathways for continued support and development beyond school. From Year 11 onward, transition planning to post-16 provision (whether further specialist education, adult services, or supported living) becomes an explicit focus.
Fees data coming soon.
Newly opened provision. Hambling View opened in February 2025 and is building its first cohort. While staff are clearly motivated and planning is thorough, the school has not yet established a track record of student outcomes or progression. Families should visit, speak with staff, and feel confident that the school's philosophy and approach align with their child's needs.
Highly specialist focus. This school serves only students with EHCPs. It is not an inclusive mainstream school; it is deliberately specialist. Families should be comfortable with this positioning and satisfied that their child's needs genuinely require this level of specialisation.
Small cohort, limited external activity. With just 14 places across the school, enrichment activities and social opportunities may be more limited than in larger specialist schools. The school community will necessarily be tight-knit. Some families find this beneficial; others prefer larger peer groups.
Funding clarity essential. As an independent specialist school, funding arrangements are critical to investigate. Contact the school directly to understand costs and explore local authority top-up arrangements or other financial support before proceeding with applications.
Location and transport. The school is situated on the outskirts of Bath. Families should verify that the location is accessible and that transport arrangements (whether via local authority provision or family arrangement) are feasible.
Hambling View represents a meaningful addition to Bath's specialist SEND landscape, offering personalised, small-scale education designed explicitly around the principle that young people with complex needs flourish in nurturing, tailored environments. The school's newness is simultaneously a strength and a consideration: staff are energised, planning is coherent, and vision is clear, but there is no track record yet to evaluate. Head teacher Beth Rowlinson has positioned the school within a framework of genuine care and ambitious individualisation. For families seeking a safe, respectful, highly personalised specialist setting where their child's Education, Health and Care Plan is truly driving provision, Hambling View warrants serious investigation. Best suited to families of young people aged 11-16 with identified complex learning needs whose local authority is seeking specialist independent provision, and who value small-scale, relationship-based learning over larger institutional settings.
Hambling View is a newly opened specialist school serving young people with Education, Health and Care Plans. It opened in February 2025 and is building its initial cohort. Staff are highly motivated, planning is thorough, and the school's philosophy emphasizes genuine personalisation and safeguarding. As a new provision, there is no inspection history or published outcome data yet. Families should visit, meet staff, and assess whether the school's approach matches their child's needs.
All students at Hambling View must have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming specialist provision or identifying complex learning needs. The school serves students aged 11-16. Admissions are coordinated through Bath and North East Somerset Council's SEND team. This is not an inclusive mainstream school; it is specialist provision for students whose needs require intensive, individualised support.
Hambling View offers a modified curriculum designed around developing social independence, essential maths and English skills, and vocational preparation. Rather than pursuing traditional examinations, the school works toward individualised learning objectives aligned to each student's EHCP. Progress is measured against personal targets in areas such as independence, confidence, resilience, and practical life skills.
Hambling View is independent, and fees depend on individual funding arrangements. Many students with EHCPs receive top-up funding from their local authority, with the authority contributing toward specialist placement costs. Contact the school directly for enquiries.
The school prioritises wellbeing and safety. Three members of staff are designated Safeguarding Leads; behaviour is managed through clear, values-based policies; and the school emphasises partnership with families. A daily breakfast club creates a calm start to the day. Mental health support includes links to external agencies such as Young Minds and the NSPCC. The school holds the Equality Quality Mark.
From Year 11 onward, transition planning becomes explicit. The school employs a dedicated vocational tutor to develop practical life skills and workplace readiness. Staff work with students and families to plan next steps, whether into further specialist education, adult services, or supported living. The small cohort means relationships between school and families remain strong throughout transition planning.
Contact the school directly: Hambling View Independent School, Lime Yard, Claverton Down Road, Bath BA2 7AE. Telephone: 01225 234222. Email: info@hamblingview.org. Request information about the school's approach, ask to visit, and speak with Head teacher Beth Rowlinson about whether Hambling View's provision matches your child's needs. Families will also liaise with Bath and North East Somerset Council's SEND team regarding formal admissions processes.
Get in touch with the school directly
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