Whipperley Infant Academy

Whipperley Infant Academy is a highly inclusive and nurturing infant school where pupils flourish. Inspectors found the school outstanding in every judged area, with a curriculum that builds securely on prior learning and prepares children well for key stage 1. Pupils develop strong character, behave exceptionally well and benefit from a calm, purposeful environment underpinned by the school’s simple ‘being kind’ rule. The school has very high ambitions for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and vulnerable pupils. Reading is a clear priority, staff teach early reading consistently and effectively, and pupils who are new to the country or speak English as an additional language are well supported to catch up quickly. Enrichment, clubs, visits and strong partnerships with parents add considerably to pupils’ experiences, while staff feel well supported and governors carry out their duties effectively. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The report does not identify any significant areas of weakness. As this was a graded inspection from September 2024, no overall effectiveness grade was given; the school’s previous inspection grade was good.

Strengths

• Nurturing environment built around kindness helps pupils become confident and independent
• Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary, respectful and calm
• Highly inclusive school with exceptional work removing barriers for SEND and vulnerable pupils
• Well-sequenced, ambitious curriculum builds on prior learning and prepares pupils well for key stage 1
• Reading is prioritised with consistent, effective phonics teaching and well-matched books
• Teachers have strong subject knowledge and check regularly that pupils remember learning
• Effective support helps pupils new to the country or with EAL catch up quickly
• Extensive enrichment, clubs, visits and town-wide initiatives are available to all pupils
• Strong partnerships with parents and carers support pupils well
• Staff feel well supported, value professional development and have manageable workload
• Governors know the school well and carry out statutory duties effectively
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective
• Early years provision develops confidence, independence and strong foundations for key stage 1
• Attendance is good because the school works well with families

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 Whipperley Infant Academy attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 11.4% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Whipperley Infant 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 Whipperley Infant Academy had 19.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 50.0% 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, 22.0% of pupils at Whipperley Infant Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.0% 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 Whipperley Infant Academy received £8,687 and spent £7,944 for each of its 250 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £668,000 (£2,673 per pupil).

Across all 3 schools of Whipperley Academy Trust, income was £11,071 and spending £10,247 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 Luton · Luton local authority: places and applications

Whipperley Infant Academy is part of Whipperley Academy Trust, which runs 3 schools. The nearest others:

• Farley Junior Academy Luton
• Weatherfield Academy Dunstable

What is Whipperley Infant Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Whipperley Infant Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in July 2025.

When was Whipperley Infant Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Whipperley Infant Academy was last inspected in July 2025.

How many pupils does Whipperley Infant Academy have?

Whipperley Infant Academy has 241 pupils on roll.

What age range does Whipperley Infant Academy cover?

Whipperley Infant Academy for pupils aged 4 to 7.

Where is Whipperley Infant Academy?

Whipperley Infant Academy is at Whipperley Ring, Farley Hill, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 5QY.