Discovery Academy

Discovery Academy continues to perform well as a good school, benefiting from robust leadership and a supportive school environment. The strong emphasis on personal development and opportunities for pupils enhances their educational experience. There are effective strategies in place for behavior management and a curriculum that is well-structured in most areas. However, some subjects show a need for improved clarity in essential knowledge, and a focus on attendance remains crucial as a few pupils are still absent too frequently.

Strengths

• Strong leadership fosters a welcoming and supportive environment.
• Effective curriculum structure in most subjects promotes positive learning.
• Daily reading sessions enhance literacy skills for all pupils.
• Wide range of extracurricular activities supports personal development.
• Strong careers guidance prepares pupils for future opportunities.

Areas for Improvement

• Lack of clarity in essential knowledge in a few subjects.
• Attendance of some pupils remains too low.

In 2024–25 pupils at Discovery Academy attended 71.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 58.8% 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, 6.9% of pupils at Discovery Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). One pupil was 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 Discovery Academy had 5.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.3% 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 Discovery Academy had 108 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; 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 Discovery Academy received £42,811 and spent £41,487 for each of its 102 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £987,000 (£9,681 per pupil).

Across all 4 schools of Macintyre Academies, income was £47,562 and spending £45,609 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 Nuneaton · Warwickshire local authority: places and applications

Discovery Academy is part of Macintyre Academies, which runs 4 schools. The nearest others:

• Quest Academy Rugby
• Venture Academy Henley-In-Arden
• Endeavour Academy, Oxford Oxford

What is Discovery Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Discovery Academy is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Discovery Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Discovery Academy was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Discovery Academy have?

Discovery Academy has 108 pupils on roll.

What age range does Discovery Academy cover?

Discovery Academy for pupils aged 9 to 19.

What are Discovery Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025 its average Attainment 8 score was 10.3, and 6% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Discovery Academy?

Discovery Academy is at Vernons Lane, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV11 5SS.