Coppice Academy

Coppice Academy is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 with special educational needs and/or disabilities, part of the Shaw Education Trust. Inspectors found it to be a very special school where care, hope and ambition surround pupils, and where staff, families and specialist services work closely together to overcome barriers to learning. The school received the highest possible judgments in all key areas, with safeguarding arrangements judged effective; it had not previously been inspected under section 5. The report highlights an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum, strong support for reading and phonics, precise adaptation to individual needs, and excellent personal development. Pupils are confident, resilient and happy, behaviour is generally exemplary, and many attend well. Leaders act quickly to support attendance and are backed by a caring trust, well-trained staff and highly positive parents. No significant weaknesses or areas for improvement were identified in the report. Inspectors found inspirational leadership, a strong community ethos and a clear commitment to preparing pupils for fulfilling, independent lives.

Strengths

• Caring and inclusive culture where pupils feel happy, safe and valued as individuals
• Positive relationships and calm, purposeful classrooms with generally exemplary behaviour
• Ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum that builds pupils’ knowledge over time
• Effective phonics and reading support for pupils who arrive unable to read
• Precise adaptation of learning and resources to meet individual SEND needs
• Strong work with families, previous schools and specialist services to remove barriers
• Good attendance, with swift support for pupils whose attendance is less positive
• Impressive range of clubs and trips that enrich pupils’ interests and ambitions
• Personal development and independent living/work skills prepare pupils well for life
• Staff are well supported, well trained and proud to work at the school
• Parents are highly positive about the care and experiences their children receive
• Effective safeguarding arrangements and an open, positive safeguarding culture
• Inspirational leadership, strong trust support and an unrelenting commitment to improvement

In 2024–25 pupils at Coppice Academy attended 92.9% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 24.3% 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, 3.6% of pupils at Coppice 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 Coppice Academy had 7.4 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 Coppice Academy had 106 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty.

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 Coppice Academy received £23,048 and spent £17,924 for each of its 110 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,464,000 (£13,309 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 · Staffordshire local authority: places and applications

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

• Blackfriars Academy Newcastle-Under-Lyme
• 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
• Portland School Stoke-On-Trent

What is Coppice Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Coppice Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Coppice Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Coppice Academy was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Coppice Academy have?

Coppice Academy has 106 pupils on roll.

What age range does Coppice Academy cover?

Coppice Academy for pupils aged 11 to 16.

Where is Coppice Academy?

Coppice Academy is at Abbots Way, Westlands, Newcastle, Staffordshire, ST5 2EY.