Knowle DGE Academy

Knowle DGE Academy has made significant strides since its previous inspection and is now performing at a good level across all evaluated domains. The school offers a supportive and caring environment where pupils, including those in the sixth form, are encouraged to work hard and engage positively in their education. The curriculum effectively broadens pupils' experiences, facilitating not just academic growth but also personal and social development. The school’s involvement in the Midsomer Norton Learning Partnership has bolstered its improvements, ensuring that staff receive robust support and training to enhance the educational provision further.

Strengths

• Pupils form strong relationships with staff and feel safe.
• The curriculum offers diverse experiences, including vocational pathways and extracurricular activities.
• Staff consistently apply school rules and effective techniques to support pupils' well-being and learning.
• Teachers receive strong support and training from the trust, allowing non-specialists to effectively teach essential curriculum content.
• The school prioritizes phonics teaching, helping pupils become confident readers.

Areas for Improvement

• The new approach to assessing pupil knowledge and progress is not fully established, leading to some broad targets.
• The bespoke curriculum for pupils at risk of exclusion is still in its early stages, lacking strong oversight from the trust.

In 2024–25 pupils at Knowle DGE Academy attended 80.9% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 51.1% 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, 22.7% of pupils at Knowle DGE 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 Knowle DGE Academy had 5.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.3% 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 Knowle DGE Academy had 168 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; 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 Knowle DGE Academy received £37,538 and spent £35,165 for each of its 163 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,345,000 (£8,250 per pupil).

Across all 41 schools of Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership, income was £8,730 and spending £8,608 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 Bristol · Bristol, City of local authority: places and applications

Knowle DGE Academy is part of Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership, which runs 43 schools. The nearest others:

• Dundry Church of England Primary School Bristol
• Soundwell Academy Kingswood
• Clutton Primary School Bristol
• High Littleton CofE VC Primary School Bristol
• St Mary's CofE Primary School Bath
• Farrington Gurney Church of England Primary School Bristol
• Hayesfield Girls School Bath
• Peasedown St John Primary School Bath
• Longvernal Primary School Radstock
• Welton Primary School Radstock

What is Knowle DGE Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Knowle DGE Academy is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was Knowle DGE Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Knowle DGE Academy was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does Knowle DGE Academy have?

Knowle DGE Academy has 168 pupils on roll.

What age range does Knowle DGE Academy cover?

Knowle DGE Academy for pupils aged 5 to 19.

What are Knowle DGE Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 7.0, and 9% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Knowle DGE Academy?

Knowle DGE Academy is at Novers Road, Bristol, BS4 1QY.