Highfield Ely Academy

In 2024–25 pupils at Highfield Ely Academy attended 93.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 19.5% 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, 4.1% of pupils at Highfield Ely 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 Highfield Ely Academy had 8.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.8% 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 Highfield Ely Academy had 134 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; 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 Highfield Ely Academy received £30,652 and spent £32,232 for each of its 139 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £166,000 (£1,192 per pupil).

Across all 18 schools of The Active Learning Trust Limited, income was £8,366 and spending £8,624 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 Ely · Cambridgeshire local authority: places and applications

Highfield Ely Academy is part of The Active Learning Trust Limited, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• Isle of Ely Primary School Ely
• Highfield Littleport Academy Ely
• Cromwell Community College Chatteris
• Kingsfield Primary School Chatteris
• Earith Primary School Huntingdon
• Neale-Wade Academy March
• Chesterton Primary School Cambridge
• Gusford Community Primary School Ipswich
• Chantry Academy Ipswich
• Hillside Primary School Ipswich

How many pupils does Highfield Ely Academy have?

Highfield Ely Academy has 134 pupils on roll.

What age range does Highfield Ely Academy cover?

Highfield Ely Academy for pupils aged 2 to 19.

What are Highfield Ely Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Highfield Ely Academy?

Highfield Ely Academy is at Downham Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 1BD.