Kingsbury Academy

Kingsbury Academy is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 11 with autism and speech, language and communication needs; all pupils have an education, health and care plan, and the school is part of the Thrive Education Partnership. Since the previous inspection in 2022, when the school was judged to require improvement, a new headteacher has been appointed. The December 2024 graded inspection found the school's provision to be exceptional across the key judgements, with safeguarding arrangements effective. Because of the current inspection framework, no overall effectiveness grade was given. Pupils thrive in an aspirational environment where autism and the many ways pupils and staff communicate are celebrated. The curriculum is highly ambitious and carefully sequenced across pathways, and staff adapt teaching skilfully to pupils' needs and interests. Communication is a central strength, including the use of objects, pictures and symbols, and this helps pupils learn extremely well. Reading and phonics are taught well and matched to pupils' readiness, behaviour expectations are consistently applied, attendance is high, and personal development and preparation for later life are impressive. Leaders, governors and the trust support the school strongly, and staff value the attention given to their workload and wellbeing. Pupils benefit from a wide range of wider experiences, community and workplace links, and leadership opportunities. At the time of the inspection there were no children in the early years. The report identifies no significant areas of concern or next steps for improvement.

Strengths

• Highly ambitious curriculum tailored to all pupils and pathways
• Staff skilfully adapt teaching to pupils' specific needs and interests
• Strong communication focus using objects, pictures and symbols
• Effective reading and phonics provision matched to pupils' readiness
• Consistent high expectations for behaviour and strong staff-pupil relationships
• High attendance with good support for families
• Impressive personal development and preparation for later life
• Wide range of wider experiences, including community and workplace links
• Strong pupil leadership opportunities, including an active junior leadership team
• Leaders, governors and the trust support improvement and staff wellbeing
• Effective safeguarding arrangements
• Calm school environment with pupils well supported emotionally

In 2024–25 pupils at Kingsbury Academy attended 93.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 18.6% 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 Kingsbury 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 Kingsbury Academy had 7.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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 Kingsbury Academy had 105 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; 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 Kingsbury Academy received £29,369 and spent £32,901 for each of its 102 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £755,000 (-£7,399 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of Thrive Education Partnership, income was £32,175 and spending £33,621 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

Kingsbury Academy is part of Thrive Education Partnership, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Corley Academy Coventry
• The Warwickshire Academy Coventry
• Baginton Fields Academy Coventry
• Kitts Green Academy Birmingham
• Calthorpe Academy Birmingham
• Mary Elliot Academy Walsall

What is Kingsbury Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Kingsbury Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was Kingsbury Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Kingsbury Academy was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Kingsbury Academy have?

Kingsbury Academy has 105 pupils on roll.

What age range does Kingsbury Academy cover?

Kingsbury Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Kingsbury Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Kingsbury Academy?

Kingsbury Academy is at Kingsbury Road, Coundon, COVENTRY, West Midlands, CV6 1PJ.