Watermill School

This school has not been graded since it changed URN, usually on converting to an academy. The rating shown is from its predecessor, Watermill School, inspected in October 2017.

In 2024–25 pupils at Watermill School attended 88.6% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 40.9% 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, 3.8% of pupils at Watermill School 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 Watermill School had 8.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.6% 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 Watermill School had 254 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; social, emotional and mental health; 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 Watermill School received £21,947 and spent £22,056 for each of its 240 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £897,000 (£3,739 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of Orchard Community Trust, income was £9,998 and spending £10,363 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.

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All schools in Stoke-On-Trent · Stoke-on-Trent local authority: places and applications

Watermill School is part of Orchard Community Trust, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Forest Park Primary School Stoke-On-Trent
• Etruscan Primary School Stoke-On-Trent
• Abbey Hulton Primary School Stoke-On-Trent
• St Mark's CofE Primary School Stoke-On-Trent
• Oakhill Primary School Stoke-On-Trent
• Kemball School Stoke-On-Trent

What is Watermill School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Watermill School is Good, from an inspection in October 2017 of its predecessor, Watermill School.

When was Watermill School last inspected by Ofsted?

Watermill School was last inspected in December 2023.

How many pupils does Watermill School have?

Watermill School has 254 pupils on roll.

What age range does Watermill School cover?

Watermill School for pupils aged 2 to 16.

What are Watermill School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Watermill School?

Watermill School is at Turnhurst Road, Chell, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 6JZ.