The Wyvern School Buxford
Great Chart Bypass, Ashford, TN23 4ER
Pupils
358
Ages
4 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Age range
4 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Pupils
358
Headteacher
Mrs Penny Bullen
Type
Specialist
Ofsted
Good
Local authority
Kent
Sixth form
Yes
About The Wyvern School Buxford
Based in Ashford, The Wyvern School Buxford is a special school for children aged 4 to 19 and takes boys and girls. The school currently has about 358 pupils. On our figures that is above the typical size for a special school in Ashford. It is a maintained school within the Kent local authority area. The school has its own sixth form for post-16 study. The headteacher is Mrs Penny Bullen.
Inspection at a glance
Ofsted rated The Wyvern School Buxford Good at its inspection on 12 March 2024. The full inspection report is linked from this page so you can read the inspectors' own words.
How the school is performing
Attendance works out at roughly 88.7% (absence 11.3%) (2024/25). Around 41.0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Figures come from the Department for Education's published school performance data and are shown in full further down this page.
Getting a place at The Wyvern School Buxford
The Wyvern School Buxford is a special school, so places are arranged through the education, health and care plan process rather than the normal application round. Kent names the school in a child's EHCP after consulting it. Always check the current admissions policy on the school's own website before you apply, because criteria can change year to year.
SEND at a glance
The Wyvern School Buxford is a specialist SEND setting, so every pupil on roll has identified additional needs. Named areas of need it supports include Autism, Moderate learning difficulties, Severe learning difficulties, Profound and multiple learning difficulties, Physical disability. Recorded provision: Specialist school: ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; PD - Physical Disability; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty. The school's SEN information report is the authoritative source and is linked in the SEND section below.
The Wyvern School Buxford contact details and location
The Wyvern School Buxford is at Great Chart Bypass, Ashford, Kent, TN23 4ER. The school office can be reached on 01233 621468. A map, directions and the school's own website link are on this page.
Ofsted inspection
Overall effectiveness
Last inspection: 12/03/2024
Quality of Education
How well pupils are taught and what they learn
Behaviour and Attitudes
How pupils behave and their attitude to learning
Personal Development
Support for pupils' wider growth and wellbeing
Leadership and Management
How well the school is run
Early Years
Quality of nursery and Reception
Sixth Form
Quality of post-16 education
The Wyvern School Buxford admissions and catchment area
No entrance test - you apply on the common application form
The Wyvern School Buxford does not run its own entrance test. Places are allocated by Kent County Council using published oversubscription criteria. Oversubscription criteria usually cover looked-after children, siblings, distance from the school, and (for faith schools) faith criteria.
Official links
Dates and criteria change each year - always confirm with the school and Kent County Council. KCC school admissions →
How to apply
1. Apply on the common application form (autumn term before Reception)
Complete the Primary Common Application Form on the Kent County Council website by mid-January - for September 2026 entry the window ran from Friday 7 November 2025 to Thursday 15 January 2026, and offers were emailed on Thursday 16 April 2026.
2. National Offer Day (mid-April)
You'll be told your allocated school by email - for 2026 entry KCC emailed offers on Thursday 16 April 2026 after 4pm, with offers visible online from 5pm.
3. Accept and, if needed, appeal
Accept your place by the given date. If you didn't get your preferred school, you have the right to appeal.
4. In-year admissions
Moving mid-year? Apply directly through Kent County Council's in-year admissions team, or in some cases direct to the school.
Didn't get a place? You can appeal
If The Wyvern School Buxford is not offered on National Offer Day, you can appeal the decision. The appeal is heard by an independent panel and is free to submit.
How to appeal a school offerThe Wyvern School Buxford results and attendance
KS2 results
A-Level results
Not published
Attendance
Free school meals
SEND support at The Wyvern School Buxford
SEND setting
Specialist school
SEND provision
Specialist school: ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; PD - Physical Disability; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Specialisms
- Autism
- Moderate learning difficulties
- Severe learning difficulties
- Profound and multiple learning difficulties
- Physical disability
For full details, visit the school's SEND information page.
Wraparound care and nursery at The Wyvern School Buxford
Nursery
No
Breakfast club
Please check with the school
After-school club
Please check with the school
The Wyvern School Buxford term dates: Kent standard term dates for 2026/27
These are Kent County Council's standard term dates. Your school may use different dates and INSET days, so check the school's website before making plans.
Autumn 1 · 2026
1 Sep-23 Oct
Autumn 2 · 2026
2 Nov-18 Dec
Spring 1 · 2027
4 Jan-12 Feb
Spring 2 · 2027
22 Feb-25 Mar
Summer 1 · 2027
12 Apr-28 May
Summer 2 · 2027
7 Jun-21 Jul
The Wyvern School Buxford: frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a place at The Wyvern School Buxford?
Places at The Wyvern School Buxford are arranged through the education, health and care plan (EHCP) process. Ask your SEN casework team at Kent to consult the school as part of your child's plan.
What is The Wyvern School Buxford's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated The Wyvern School Buxford Good at its inspection on 12 March 2024. You can open the full report from the inspection section of this page.
What SEND support does The Wyvern School Buxford offer?
The Wyvern School Buxford is recorded as a specialist school. Named areas of need include Autism, Moderate learning difficulties, Severe learning difficulties, Profound and multiple learning difficulties, Physical disability. The school's SEN information report has the current detail and is linked in the SEND section of this page.
What are The Wyvern School Buxford's term dates and INSET days?
The Wyvern School Buxford follows the standard Kent pattern for 2026/27, set out term by term on this page. INSET days are set by the school itself, so confirm them on the school's own calendar.
Where is The Wyvern School Buxford and how do I contact the school?
The Wyvern School Buxford is at Great Chart Bypass, Ashford, Kent, TN23 4ER. The office number is 01233 621468. A map and directions are on this page.
How big is The Wyvern School Buxford and what ages does it take?
The Wyvern School Buxford has around 358 pupils on roll and covers ages 4 to 19. It is a mixed school taking boys and girls.
About this information. Compiled from published sources including the Department for Education, Ofsted and the school's own website. Last reviewed Summer 2026.
Report an update →Do you run a business for families in Ashford?
Local businesses, tutors, clubs and nurseries can have a full profile page here, in front of the parents already reading about Ashford schools.
Get my profile builtSchools near The Wyvern School Buxford
The closest schools to TN23 4ER, measured from each school's own location.
Ashford · Specialist · 1.2 miles
Goldwyn Community Special School
Ashford · Independent · 1.2 miles
The T3 School
Ashford · Independent · 1.9 miles
Kings Park School
Ashford · Specialist · 5.1 miles
Caldecott Foundation School
Ashford · Independent · 5.7 miles
Heath Farm School
Tenterden · Independent · 7.6 miles
Little Acorns Independent School
Help us keep this page accurate
Spotted something wrong?
Tell us what needs updating on The Wyvern School Buxford and we'll review it before the page changes.