Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy

Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy provides a good education for pupils with complex physical, medical, and sensory needs, supporting their development and preparing them for future studies. The curriculum is well-planned and adapted to meet the varied requirements of all students, promoting confidence and communication skills. Notable strengths include positive relationships between staff and pupils, as well as a strong focus on personal development, evidenced by their outstanding ratings in this area. However, the school faces challenges in ensuring all staff are adequately trained to meet the specific sensory needs of some pupils, which can lead to disengagement.

Strengths

• Well-planned curriculum that meets diverse needs of pupils.
• Highly positive relationships between staff and students.
• Outstanding personal development opportunities.
• Effective support for career education and transition to adulthood.
• Strong extracurricular activities including music and movement.

Areas for Improvement

• Some staff lack training in sensory strategies for curriculum delivery.
• Improvement planning is not clearly defined for all staff.

In 2024–25 pupils at Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy attended 85.9% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 33.7% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

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, 0.0% of pupils at Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No 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 Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy had 5.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 3.7% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

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 Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy had 105 pupils, 77.1% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

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 special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy received £31,524 and spent £32,620 for each of its 99 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £75,000 (£755 per pupil).

Across all 40 schools of Ormiston Academies Trust, income was £8,888 and spending £8,698 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 Ipswich · Suffolk local authority: places and applications

Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy is part of Ormiston Academies Trust, which runs 41 schools. The nearest others:

• Ormiston Endeavour Academy Ipswich
• Stoke High School - Ormiston Academy Ipswich
• Ormiston Sudbury Academy Sudbury
• Ormiston Rivers Academy Burnham-On-Crouch
• City of Norwich School, An Ormiston Academy Norwich
• Ormiston Denes Academy Lowestoft
• Ormiston Victory Academy Norwich
• Ormiston Venture Academy Gorleston
• Ormiston Herman Academy Great Yarmouth
• Cliff Park Ormiston Academy Great Yarmouth

What is Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy is Good, from an inspection in January 2022.

When was Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy was last inspected in January 2022.

How many pupils does Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy have?

Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy has 105 pupils on roll.

What age range does Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy cover?

Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy for pupils aged 3 to 16.

Where is Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy?

Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy is at Defoe Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 6SG.