Harry Watts Academy

Harry Watts Academy has been evaluated as outstanding in all areas during its first inspection since opening. The school stands out for its warm and supportive environment, where leaders and staff demonstrate a strong commitment to the educational achievement of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The curriculum is described as high-quality and ambitious, effectively tailored to meet individual pupil needs. Feedback highlights the school's strong emphasis on reading and personal development, fostering positive relationships and preparing pupils well for adulthood.

Strengths

• Outstanding quality of education across all subjects
• Highly effective and skilled teaching that adapts to pupil needs
• Strong, respectful relationships between pupils and staff
• Ambitious and well-structured curriculum with clear learning pathways
• Effective safeguarding practices and awareness of student vulnerabilities
• Excellent provisions for personal development and character building

In 2024–25 pupils at Harry Watts Academy attended 93.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 18.8% 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, 2.9% of pupils at Harry Watts 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 Harry Watts Academy had 7.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 6.2% 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 Harry Watts Academy had 187 pupils, 95.7% 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; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; 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 Harry Watts Academy received £23,955 and spent £24,159 for each of its 175 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £800,000 (£4,569 per pupil).

Across all 3 schools of Prosper Learning Trust, income was £26,838 and spending £26,156 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 Sunderland · Sunderland local authority: places and applications

Harry Watts Academy is part of Prosper Learning Trust, which runs 3 schools. The nearest others:

• Thomas Bewick School Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
• Gilbert Ward Academy Blyth

What is Harry Watts Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Harry Watts Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Harry Watts Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Harry Watts Academy was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Harry Watts Academy have?

Harry Watts Academy has 187 pupils on roll.

What age range does Harry Watts Academy cover?

Harry Watts Academy for pupils aged 5 to 16.

What are Harry Watts Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Harry Watts Academy?

Harry Watts Academy is at Ramillies Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR5 5JA.