Grace Academy Coventry

Grace Academy Coventry is performing well overall, having improved since its previous inspection when it was graded as requiring improvement. The school demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering a positive learning environment where students feel safe and respected. Under the leadership of Principal Natasha Whiles and the supportive structure of the Tove Learning Trust, the school has implemented significant staffing changes, raising expectations around learning and behavior. The curriculum is ambitious and well-sequenced, effectively addressing the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Importantly, students' personal development is rated as outstanding, reflecting the school's dedication to providing a holistic education.

Strengths

• High aspirations shared by staff and pupils.
• Strong emphasis on personal development and community support.
• Well-sequenced and ambitious curriculum for all students.
• Effective support strategies for pupils with SEND.
• Extensive extracurricular opportunities that enhance student engagement.
• Pupils demonstrate positive attitudes towards learning.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils have gaps in learning due to absence.
• Inconsistent understanding of homework tasks among pupils.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Grace Academy Coventry attended 90.1% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 28.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 12.3% of pupils at Grace Academy Coventry were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 6 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Grace Academy Coventry had 14.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.1% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 13.4% of pupils at Grace Academy Coventry were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 1.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Grace Academy Coventry received £8,259 and spent £7,558 for each of its 1,023 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £2,124,000 (£2,076 per pupil).

Across all 13 schools of Tove Learning Trust, income was £7,790 and spending £7,801 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Coventry · Coventry local authority: places and applications

Grace Academy Coventry is part of Tove Learning Trust, which runs 14 schools. The nearest others:

• Grace Academy Solihull Birmingham
• Grace Academy Darlaston Wednesbury
• Sponne School Towcester
• Wootton Primary School Northampton
• Roade Village Academy Roade
• Huxlow Academy Irthlingborough
• Elizabeth Woodville School Milton Keynes
• Rushden Academy Rushden
• Whitefriars Primary School Rushden
• Stantonbury School Milton Keynes

What is Grace Academy Coventry's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Grace Academy Coventry is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Grace Academy Coventry last inspected by Ofsted?

Grace Academy Coventry was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Grace Academy Coventry have?

Grace Academy Coventry has 1,051 pupils on roll.

What age range does Grace Academy Coventry cover?

Grace Academy Coventry for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Grace Academy Coventry's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 42.0, and 35% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Grace Academy Coventry?

Grace Academy Coventry is at Wigston Road, Coventry, West Midlands, CV2 2RH.