Hope Wood Academy

Hope Wood Academy's recent ungraded inspection indicates that the school has made significant improvements since its last evaluation in 2018. This special academy provides tailored education for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and students reported high levels of enjoyment and pride in their learning environment. The school benefits from strong leadership within The Ascent Academies’ Trust, fostering a commitment to high standards and individual pupil needs. With an emphasis on personalized learning, pupils are prepared for their future with enhanced employability skills and community engagement.

Strengths

• Pupils make exceptional progress in their learning and development.
• Staff have high expectations and personalize learning to meet individual needs.
• The school includes parents and carers effectively in the education process.
• Career education is well-structured and sequentially delivered.
• Reading is prioritized with effective, bespoke approaches for younger children.
• Pupils confidently represent their school within the community.
• Strong emphasis on values such as honesty, integrity, and kindness is displayed by pupils.

In 2024–25 pupils at Hope Wood Academy attended 89.5% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 30.3% 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, 1.8% of pupils at Hope Wood 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 Hope Wood Academy had 7.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.7% 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 Hope Wood Academy had 250 pupils, 100.0% 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; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; autistic spectrum disorder.

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 Hope Wood Academy received £28,891 and spent £27,714 for each of its 227 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,052,000 (£4,633 per pupil).

Across all 5 schools of The Ascent Academies' Trust, income was £23,705 and spending £23,261 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 Durham · County Durham local authority: places and applications

Hope Wood Academy is part of The Ascent Academies' Trust, which runs 6 schools. The nearest others:

• Portland Academy Sunderland
• Barbara Priestman Academy Sunderland
• Ash Trees Academy Billingham
• Mowbray Academy Bedale
• Springwater Academy Harrogate

What is Hope Wood Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Hope Wood Academy is Good, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was Hope Wood Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Hope Wood Academy was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does Hope Wood Academy have?

Hope Wood Academy has 250 pupils on roll.

What age range does Hope Wood Academy cover?

Hope Wood Academy for pupils aged 2 to 19.

What are Hope Wood Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Hope Wood Academy?

Hope Wood Academy is at Crawlaw Road, Easington Colliery, Peterlee, Durham, SR8 3LP.