The Springfields Academy

The Springfields Academy is an outstanding special school where all pupils have education, health and care plans, many arriving with significant barriers to learning and unsettled prior educational experiences. Leaders and staff work tirelessly to remove these barriers, with broad EHCP targets broken down into small, achievable steps, and a firmly embedded inclusive culture strengthened by strong partnership work with families and the wider community. The school was judged exceptional in inclusion, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing, with strong standards in achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, and early years. Safeguarding standards are met and pupils feel safe and happy.

Strengths

• Exceptional inclusive culture with barriers to learning identified and removed swiftly
• Outstanding leadership and governance united by a deep commitment to pupils
• Exceptional personal development and wellbeing preparing pupils for adulthood
• Highly individualised curriculum and teaching that build securely on prior knowledge
• Strong achievement with accelerated progress from different starting points
• Positive behaviour and calm transitions supported by strong relationships
• Effective early years provision with high aspirations and expert support
• Excellent use of additional funding for disadvantaged pupils
• Wide range of clubs, trips and pupil voice opportunities
• Strong safeguarding culture where pupils feel safe and bullying is rare

Areas for Improvement

• Leaders should sustain the high standards in the curriculum and teaching so that children and pupils consistently achieve exceptionally high standards, detailed knowledge and skills in all elements of their learning.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Springfields Academy attended 88.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 32.3% 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, 5.0% of pupils at The Springfields 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 The Springfields Academy had 5.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 27.4% 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 The Springfields Academy had 267 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 The Springfields Academy received £32,308 and spent £28,957 for each of its 241 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,134,000 (£4,703 per pupil).

Across all 18 schools of Reach South Academy Trust, income was £10,522 and spending £10,515 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 Calne · Wiltshire local authority: places and applications

The Springfields Academy is part of Reach South Academy Trust, which runs 19 schools. The nearest others:

• Peak Academy Dursley
• SAIL (Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learning) Salisbury
• Hill View Primary Academy Bournemouth
• Malmesbury Park Primary School Bournemouth
• ACE Tiverton Special School Tiverton
• Thomas Hall School Exeter
• Courtlands School Plymouth
• Goosewell Primary Academy Plymouth
• Mount Tamar School Plymouth
• Pilgrim Primary Academy Plymouth

What is The Springfields Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Springfields Academy is Strong standard, from an inspection in July 2026.

When was The Springfields Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

The Springfields Academy was last inspected in July 2026.

How many pupils does The Springfields Academy have?

The Springfields Academy has 267 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Springfields Academy cover?

The Springfields Academy for pupils aged 4 to 19.

What are The Springfields Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is The Springfields Academy?

The Springfields Academy is at Curzon Street, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0DS.