The Warwickshire Academy

The Warwickshire Academy is a special school for pupils aged 9 to 19, all of whom have SEND and an education, health and care plan. Many pupils join after difficult or disrupted educational experiences, including exclusion or risk of exclusion. This was the school’s first routine section 5 inspection, and it is part of the Thrive Education Partnership Multi Academy Trust. Inspectors found the school effective across its key areas, with safeguarding arrangements also effective.

Strengths

• Caring and welcoming community where staff know pupils individually
• Pupils feel safe and behave well in a culture of high expectations
• Clear behaviour and reflection systems help pupils understand expectations
• Ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum that helps fill gaps in pupils’ knowledge
• SEND needs are identified carefully and support is individualised
• Structured phonics programme helps pupils who join lacking confidence in reading
• Staff are trained well and clear lesson routines support learning
• Attendance is improving because the school works effectively with pupils and families
• Comprehensive PSHE and therapeutic programmes support safety, emotional understanding and preparation for life
• Strong links with parents and high staff morale
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• Teachers’ checks on learning do not consistently adapt teaching or address emerging gaps
• Some staff lack deep subject knowledge, so misconceptions are not picked up consistently across subjects
• The careers programme is not comprehensive enough, leaving pupils with limited knowledge of work and career options

In 2024–25 pupils at The Warwickshire Academy attended 76.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 49.3% 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, 25.0% of pupils at The Warwickshire 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 Warwickshire Academy had 5.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 23.1% 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 Warwickshire Academy had 71 pupils, 98.6% 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; 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 The Warwickshire Academy received £55,012 and spent £53,342 for each of its 60 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £4,000 (-£69 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of Thrive Education Partnership, income was £32,175 and spending £33,621 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 Coventry · Warwickshire local authority: places and applications

The Warwickshire Academy is part of Thrive Education Partnership, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Corley Academy Coventry
• Kingsbury Academy Coventry
• Baginton Fields Academy Coventry
• Kitts Green Academy Birmingham
• Calthorpe Academy Birmingham
• Mary Elliot Academy Walsall

What is The Warwickshire Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Warwickshire Academy is Good, from an inspection in April 2025.

When was The Warwickshire Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

The Warwickshire Academy was last inspected in April 2025.

How many pupils does The Warwickshire Academy have?

The Warwickshire Academy has 71 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Warwickshire Academy cover?

The Warwickshire Academy for pupils aged 9 to 19.

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

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

Where is The Warwickshire Academy?

The Warwickshire Academy is at Wheelwright Lane, Coventry, West Midlands, CV7 9RA.