Springwell Leeds Academy

Springwell Leeds Academy has effectively maintained the standards set during its previous inspection, highlighting its ongoing commitment to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for pupils. The school fosters strong relationships between staff and students, which contributes to a positive atmosphere where students are encouraged to engage in their education and develop essential social skills. The curriculum is designed to be both ambitious and flexible, particularly emphasizing reading and language acquisition to enhance students' learning experiences.

Strengths

• High-quality positive relationships between staff and pupils.
• Effective pastoral support and interventions for pupils.
• Strong emphasis on reading and phonics instruction.
• Rigorous and adaptable curriculum that meets students' needs.
• Opportunities for personal development through extra-curricular activities.

Areas for Improvement

• Regular attendance needs improvement as some pupils miss valuable learning.
• Assessment practices in some curriculum subjects require enhancement to close knowledge gaps.

In 2024–25 pupils at Springwell Leeds Academy attended 69.6% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 62.2% 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, 5.5% of pupils at Springwell Leeds 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 Springwell Leeds Academy had 5.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.5% 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 Springwell Leeds Academy had 356 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; 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 Springwell Leeds Academy received £34,583 and spent £33,082 for each of its 346 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,161,000 (£3,357 per pupil).

Across all 25 schools of Wellspring Academy Trust, income was £12,764 and spending £12,663 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 Leeds · Leeds local authority: places and applications

Springwell Leeds Academy is part of Wellspring Academy Trust, which runs 25 schools. The nearest others:

• Elements Primary School Leeds
• Ebor Gardens Primary Academy Leeds
• Victoria Primary Academy Leeds
• Penny Field School Leeds
• Bramley Park Academy Leeds
• Green Meadows Academy Leeds
• Joseph Norton Academy Huddersfield
• Springwell Special Academy Barnsley
• Oakwell Rise Primary Academy Barnsley
• Greenacre School Barnsley

What is Springwell Leeds Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Springwell Leeds Academy is Good, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was Springwell Leeds Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Springwell Leeds Academy was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does Springwell Leeds Academy have?

Springwell Leeds Academy has 356 pupils on roll.

What age range does Springwell Leeds Academy cover?

Springwell Leeds Academy for pupils aged 5 to 16.

What are Springwell Leeds Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Springwell Leeds Academy?

Springwell Leeds Academy is at Middleton Road, Leeds, LS10 3JA.