Friars Academy

Friars Academy has demonstrated a strong commitment to maintaining high educational standards, having effectively taken action since its last inspection. The school offers a nurturing environment where pupils feel valued, safe, and engaged, fostering a community centered around respect, kindness, and integrity. There is a well-structured curriculum in place that meets the diverse needs of students, particularly those with special educational needs, ensuring they are well-prepared for future educational and career opportunities. The leadership team, supported by the Better Together Learning Trust, actively promotes the well-being of both staff and pupils, creating a positive atmosphere conducive to learning.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy attending Friars Academy and feel safe and valued.
• The school has a well-sequenced and ambitious curriculum tailored for a range of pupils.
• Staff demonstrate strong subject knowledge and provide effective feedback on pupil performance.
• Pupils exhibit positive attitudes towards learning and show commitment to their education.
• The school promotes extensive personal development opportunities for all pupils.
• High expectations of behaviour are maintained effectively across the school.

In 2024–25 pupils at Friars Academy attended 91.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 26.1% 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, 4.9% of pupils at Friars 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 Friars Academy had 6.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 4.2% 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 Friars Academy had 149 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; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; 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 Friars Academy received £26,841 and spent £26,626 for each of its 143 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £2,770,000 (£19,371 per pupil).

Across all 2 schools of Better Together Learning Trust, income was £27,023 and spending £25,558 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 Wellingborough · North Northamptonshire local authority: places and applications

Friars Academy is part of Better Together Learning Trust, which runs 2 schools. The nearest others:

• Chelveston Road School Higham Ferrers

What is Friars Academy's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Friars Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Friars Academy was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Friars Academy have?

Friars Academy has 149 pupils on roll.

What age range does Friars Academy cover?

Friars Academy for pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is Friars Academy?

Friars Academy is at Friars Close, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 2LA.