Elm Tree Primary Academy

Elm Tree Primary Academy is a special academy for neurodiverse pupils that opened in 2022 and is part of the Victoria Academy Trust. This was its first section 5 inspection, and inspectors found the school to be good across quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The school has grown quickly and has created a calm, inclusive environment where pupils are valued, routines are structured, and strong relationships underpin learning.

Strengths

• Celebrates neurodiversity and values every pupil's unique strengths
• Creates a calm, secure environment through high expectations and structured routines
• Builds strong family partnerships and keeps parents involved in their child's provision
• Identifies and assesses pupils' precise needs well, working with external specialists
• Sequences lessons carefully and draws on speech, occupational and other specialists
• Prioritises communication and language development with staff coaching and modelling
• Uses a thoughtful phonics and reading approach, including for pupils not yet using spoken language
• Works closely with families and support services to achieve high attendance
• Provides therapeutic and sensory interventions that support emotional regulation and well-being
• Offers enriching experiences such as trips, swimming and visits to cultural and religious sites

Areas for Improvement

• Staff do not consistently implement the communication systems pupils need, including spoken language, symbols or signing
• Some pupils do not yet have regular opportunities to practise practical life skills such as shopping and road safety in the local community

In 2024–25 pupils at Elm Tree Primary Academy attended 90.6% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 21.3% 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, 1.1% of pupils at Elm Tree Primary 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 Elm Tree Primary Academy had 7.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 18.2% 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 Elm Tree Primary Academy had 125 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty; 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 Elm Tree Primary Academy received £31,942 and spent £30,381 for each of its 88 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £63,000 (£719 per pupil).

Across all 11 schools of Victoria Academies Trust, income was £7,711 and spending £7,574 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 Wednesbury · Sandwell local authority: places and applications

Elm Tree Primary Academy is part of Victoria Academies Trust, which runs 11 schools. The nearest others:

• Victoria Park Primary Smethwick
• Devonshire Junior Academy Smethwick
• Devonshire Infant Academy Smethwick
• Northfield Manor Primary Academy Birmingham
• Whitehall Nursery and Infant Academy Walsall
• Fibbersley Park Academy Willenhall
• Foley Park Primary Academy Kidderminster
• Poppyfield Primary Academy Cannock
• Birchen Coppice Academy Kidderminster
• Rowley Park Primary Academy Stafford

What is Elm Tree Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Elm Tree Primary Academy is Good, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was Elm Tree Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Elm Tree Primary Academy was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does Elm Tree Primary Academy have?

Elm Tree Primary Academy has 125 pupils on roll.

What age range does Elm Tree Primary Academy cover?

Elm Tree Primary Academy for pupils aged 4 to 11.

Where is Elm Tree Primary Academy?

Elm Tree Primary Academy is at Friar Park Road, Wednesbury, WS10 0TB.