Blackfriars Academy

In 2024–25 pupils at Blackfriars Academy attended 89.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 30.5% 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 Blackfriars 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 Blackfriars Academy had 8.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 4.8% 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 Blackfriars Academy had 121 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.

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 Blackfriars Academy received £28,913 and spent £27,063 for each of its 120 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £686,000 (£5,718 per pupil).

Across all 30 schools of The Shaw Education Trust, income was £11,108 and spending £10,954 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 Newcastle-Under-Lyme · Staffordshire local authority: places and applications

Blackfriars Academy is part of The Shaw Education Trust, which runs 30 schools. The nearest others:

• Coppice Academy Newcastle
• Seabridge Primary School Newcastle-Under-Lyme
• The Orme Academy Newcastle
• Waterside Primary School Stoke-On-Trent
• The Meadows Primary Academy Stoke-On-Trent
• The Meadows Primary School Crewe
• Madeley High School Crewe
• Kidsgrove Secondary School Stoke-On-Trent
• Kidsgrove Primary School Stoke-On-Trent
• Endon High School Stoke-On-Trent

How many pupils does Blackfriars Academy have?

Blackfriars Academy has 121 pupils on roll.

What age range does Blackfriars Academy cover?

Blackfriars Academy for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Blackfriars Academy?

Blackfriars Academy is at Priory Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 2TF.