Adelaide Heath Academy

Adelaide Heath Academy has been rated as good across all areas of scrutiny in its first inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The school serves students aged 8 to 18 with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and provides a nurturing environment that helps them overcome past barriers to learning. With high expectations for achievement, the staff work diligently to prepare students for their future, ensuring they typically gain the qualifications necessary for advancement. However, there are some subjects where the curriculum lacks ambition, which hinders the depth of knowledge for certain pupils.

Strengths

• Strong supportive relationships foster a nurturing environment.
• Ambitious curriculum designed to meet the needs of SEND pupils.
• Effective tracking of pupil progress and identification of learning gaps.
• High expectations for pupil achievement lead to considerable gains.
• Pupils engage in outdoor learning to build independence and self-confidence.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum design is still developing in a minority of subjects.
• Some pupils exhibit irregular attendance, impacting their learning.
• Expectations for sixth-form students are not consistently high.

In 2024–25 pupils at Adelaide Heath Academy attended 72.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 57.6% 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, 4.6% of pupils at Adelaide Heath 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 Adelaide Heath Academy had 4.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 26.1% 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 Adelaide Heath Academy had 84 pupils, 96.4% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: social, emotional and mental health.

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 Adelaide Heath Academy received £32,259 and spent £31,632 for each of its 87 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £353,000 (£4,056 per pupil).

Across all 13 schools of Manor Hall Academy Trust, income was £31,857 and spending £31,448 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 Knutsford · Cheshire East local authority: places and applications

Adelaide Heath Academy is part of Manor Hall Academy Trust, which runs 13 schools. The nearest others:

• Adelaide School Crewe
• The Meadows School Leek
• Springfield School Leek
• Finch Woods Academy Liverpool
• Merryfields School Newcastle
• Manor Abbey School Stoke-On-Trent
• Cicely Haughton School Stoke-On-Trent
• Loxley Hall School Uttoxeter
• Sherbrook Primary School Cannock
• Rocklands School Lichfield

What is Adelaide Heath Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Adelaide Heath Academy is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was Adelaide Heath Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Adelaide Heath Academy was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does Adelaide Heath Academy have?

Adelaide Heath Academy has 84 pupils on roll.

What age range does Adelaide Heath Academy cover?

Adelaide Heath Academy for pupils aged 8 to 18.

What are Adelaide Heath Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 10.1, and 0% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

What are Adelaide Heath Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Adelaide Heath Academy?

Adelaide Heath Academy is at Longridge, Adelaide Heath Academy, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 8PA.