Branthwaite Academy

Cumbria Academy for Autism is a special school for pupils with autism, all of whom have EHC plans, and it is part of The Eden Academy Trust. This was its first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic and its first section 5 inspection. The school has been through a period of turmoil that affected pupils’ safety and behaviour, but the new leadership team and trust have acted rapidly to stabilise the school. Pupils now feel happy, safe and well cared for, behaviour is good, personal development is strong, and safeguarding is effective. However, the quality of education requires improvement, as does leadership and management and sixth-form provision. Curriculum thinking is well developed in some subjects but underdeveloped in others, including the sixth form and PSHE, so teachers are not always clear what pupils should learn and when. Assessment is not consistently used well to identify gaps in knowledge, and SEND information is not precise enough to set accurate next steps for some pupils. As a result, some pupils do not achieve as well as they should, although many leave the sixth form well prepared for their next steps and some gain qualifications including GCSEs. Strengths include a warm and caring culture, good behaviour and attitudes, strong pupil voice and enterprise activities, comprehensive careers guidance, and a clear priority on reading. Staff value the support they receive for their well-being and workload and are proud to work at the school. The local advisory board and trustees share the school’s ambition, but this ambition is not yet fully realised in the curriculum and assessment across all subjects.

Strengths

• Warm, caring and safe environment where pupils feel happy and supported.
• Pupils behave well, are respectful and older students act as positive role models.
• Staff respond swiftly and sensitively to pupils’ emotional needs.
• Strong personal development through pupil voice and enterprise activities that build confidence and independence.
• Comprehensive careers advice and practical work experience, including in the sixth form.
• Reading is a priority, with well-matched books and phonics support for pupils who struggle.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
• Staff value support for their well-being and workload and are proud to work at the school.
• Leaders and the trust acted rapidly to stabilise the school after a period of turmoil.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum design and sequencing are underdeveloped in several subjects across key stages and the sixth form.
• Assessment strategies are not used effectively in some subjects, so gaps in pupils’ knowledge are not identified.
• Information about pupils’ SEND needs is not precise or used effectively enough to set accurate next-step targets.
• The PSHE curriculum remains underdeveloped.
• Some pupils do not achieve as well as they should because of weaknesses in curriculum and assessment.
• Leadership and management require improvement, and leaders’ ambition is not yet fully realised.
• Sixth-form provision requires improvement because of curriculum and assessment weaknesses.

In 2024–25 pupils at Branthwaite Academy attended 85.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 27.1% 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, 1.5% of pupils at Branthwaite 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 Branthwaite Academy had 5.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.3% 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 Branthwaite Academy had 74 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: 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 Branthwaite Academy received £37,015 and spent £39,985 for each of its 66 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £322,000 (£4,874 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of The Eden Academy, income was £36,160 and spending £38,589 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 Workington · Cumberland local authority: places and applications

Branthwaite Academy is part of The Eden Academy, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• James Rennie School Carlisle
• George Hastwell School Special Academy Barrow-In-Furness
• Hexham Priory School Hexham
• Pinn River School Eastcote
• Pentland Field School Uxbridge
• Alexandra School Harrow
• Moorcroft School Uxbridge
• Grand Union Village School Northolt

What is Branthwaite Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Branthwaite Academy is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was Branthwaite Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Branthwaite Academy was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does Branthwaite Academy have?

Branthwaite Academy has 74 pupils on roll.

What age range does Branthwaite Academy cover?

Branthwaite Academy for pupils aged 4 to 19.

What are Branthwaite Academy's GCSE results?

In 2023 its average Attainment 8 score was 19.9, and 11% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Branthwaite Academy?

Branthwaite Academy is at Branthwaite Road, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 4SS.