Quest Academy

Quest Academy is a welcoming and nurturing special school for pupils with autism spectrum conditions and social, emotional and mental health needs; all pupils have education, health and care plans. It is part of MacIntyre Academies Trust and has experienced leadership changes since the principal was appointed in January 2024. Safeguarding standards are met. Inspectors found personal development and wellbeing to be a significant strength, while achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance are at expected standard. Pupils feel safe, behave well, and many improve their attendance after joining the school. The school provides a well-sequenced personal development, PSHE and preparation for adulthood curriculum, strong careers guidance and enrichment, and effective support for vulnerable pupils. Reading is prioritised, and most pupils move on successfully to appropriate destinations. Leaders are reflective, staff morale is high, parents are positive, and governance is effective. Areas for improvement are focused rather than systemic: teaching does not always use assessment information consistently to close gaps or tackle misconceptions, and pupils’ accuracy and fluency in spelling, handwriting and number skills need further development. Leaders should embed greater consistency in assessment use and continue to strengthen these foundational skills.

Strengths

• Personal development and wellbeing provision is a significant strength.
• Well-sequenced PSHE and preparation for adulthood curriculum.
• Strong emphasis on equality, diversity, and fundamental British values.
• Extensive enrichment, educational visits, and extracurricular opportunities.
• Highly effective careers programme with tailored guidance and work experience.
• Pupils feel safe, supported, and know how to raise concerns.
• Calm and orderly school with positive staff-pupil relationships.
• Effective behaviour support plans and consistent behaviour management.
• Improved attendance following admission.
• Early reading taught consistently with matched phonics books.
• Effective identification of SEND and tailored support from accurate starting points.
• Strong support for vulnerable pupils, including looked-after children.
• Disadvantaged pupil funding used appropriately.
• Effective oversight of alternative provision.
• Knowledgeable, reflective, and ambitious leadership and governance.
• High staff morale and positive views of leadership support.
• Strong professional development, including the Teaching Assistant Academy.
• Parents hold the school in high regard.

Areas for Improvement

• Assessment information is not always used effectively to address gaps or misconceptions.
• Pupils sometimes do not build on prior learning as securely as they could.
• Spelling, handwriting and number fluency are not developed as effectively as they could be.
• Some pupils need greater accuracy and fluency in foundational skills.
• Leaders should embed greater consistency in using assessment to close gaps.
• Leaders should continue focusing on spelling, handwriting and mathematics fluency.

In 2024–25 pupils at Quest Academy attended 89.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 29.7% 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, 7.0% of pupils at Quest 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 Quest Academy had 5.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2023–24, 9.1% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 16.2%).

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 Quest Academy had 101 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; 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 Quest Academy received £39,852 and spent £37,128 for each of its 100 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,228,000 (£12,279 per pupil).

Across all 4 schools of Macintyre Academies, income was £47,562 and spending £45,609 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 Rugby · Warwickshire local authority: places and applications

Quest Academy is part of Macintyre Academies, which runs 4 schools. The nearest others:

• Discovery Academy Nuneaton
• Venture Academy Henley-In-Arden
• Endeavour Academy, Oxford Oxford

What is Quest Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Quest Academy is Expected standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Quest Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Quest Academy was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Quest Academy have?

Quest Academy has 101 pupils on roll.

What age range does Quest Academy cover?

Quest Academy for pupils aged 7 to 19.

What are Quest Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Quest Academy?

Quest Academy is at Anderson Avenue, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV22 5PE.