Shepherdswell Academy

Shepherdswell Academy is performing well overall, reflecting a nurturing environment where pupils thrive. The school has not been inspected in a long time and has transitioned from an outstanding rating under a previous framework to a good rating in the current inspection. The leadership at the school, including the executive headteacher and head of school, is effective in ensuring that students are supported academically and emotionally, fostering a community-focused atmosphere that values diversity and inclusion. The personal development of pupils is noted as outstanding, highlighting their well-rounded character and understanding of cultural differences. While the majority of the curriculum is delivered effectively, there are still some subjects where implementation is in the early stages. Leaders are aware of these areas and are addressing the need for a more consistent approach across all subjects to improve pupils' achievement further. Overall, the inspection indicates a positive outlook for the school's trajectory, given its proactive leadership and commitment to pupil well-being and learning.

Strengths

• Pupils embody the school’s core values of collaboration, community, courage, curiosity, and creativity.
• The personal development curriculum is outstanding, preparing pupils well for modern British life.
• There is a detailed and ambitious curriculum that supports academic and emotional development for all pupils.
• Pupils with special educational needs receive bespoke support that helps develop self-confidence and self-awareness.
• Reading is prioritized, with effective phonics instruction in early years and Key Stage 1.
• Pupils demonstrate high levels of kindness and respect in their interactions.
• The school environment is calm and orderly, fostering positive learning experiences.

Areas for Improvement

• In a small number of subjects, the curriculum is not yet fully implemented consistently, leading to gaps in pupils' knowledge.

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 Shepherdswell Academy attended 95.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 17.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

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, 0.9% of pupils at Shepherdswell Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). 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 Shepherdswell Academy had 17.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 28.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

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, 7.4% of pupils at Shepherdswell Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

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

In 2024–25 Shepherdswell Academy received £9,415 and spent £9,408 for each of its 110 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £31,000 (£283 per pupil).

Across all 12 schools of East Midlands Academy Trust, income was £7,645 and spending £7,616 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 Milton Keynes · Milton Keynes local authority: places and applications

Shepherdswell Academy is part of East Midlands Academy Trust, which runs 12 schools. The nearest others:

• Orchard Academy Milton Keynes
• Hardingstone Academy Northampton
• Stimpson Avenue Academy Northampton
• Castle Academy Northampton
• Northampton International Academy Northampton
• Culworth Church of England Primary Academy Banbury
• Chacombe CEVA Primary Academy Banbury
• Boddington Church of England Primary Academy Daventry
• Naseby Church of England Primary Academy Northampton
• Wilbarston Church of England Primary School Market Harborough

What is Shepherdswell Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Shepherdswell Academy is Good, from an inspection in January 2024.

When was Shepherdswell Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Shepherdswell Academy was last inspected in January 2024.

How many pupils does Shepherdswell Academy have?

Shepherdswell Academy has 108 pupils on roll.

What age range does Shepherdswell Academy cover?

Shepherdswell Academy for pupils aged 2 to 7.

Where is Shepherdswell Academy?

Shepherdswell Academy is at Billingwell Place, Springfield, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK6 3NP.