Mary Elliot Academy

Mary Elliot Academy is a special school catering to pupils aged 11 to 18 with profound and multiple special educational needs. In its first inspection under the Thrive Education Partnership trust, the school demonstrates strong performance, effectively fulfilling expected standards across various domains. Pupils progress steadily through well-understood teaching approaches tailored to their individual needs, fostering a supportive environment where they feel safe and valued. The school's commitment to safeguarding and promoting well-being is evident, ensuring that pupils develop positive attitudes and skills for future independence.

Strengths

• Strong safeguarding culture ensuring pupils feel safe.
• Effective personalised support for pupils with complex needs.
• Curriculum is well-designed to meet pupils' developmental stages.
• High-quality teaching with clear explanations and good subject knowledge.
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils foster a sense of belonging.

Areas for Improvement

• Need to enhance employer encounters to match pupils' interests and ambitions.
• Greater parental engagement is needed for supporting children's futures.

In 2024–25 pupils at Mary Elliot Academy attended 89.3% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 32.7% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Mary Elliot 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 Mary Elliot Academy had 8.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.2% 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 Mary Elliot Academy had 148 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; profound and multiple 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 Mary Elliot Academy received £32,703 and spent £35,511 for each of its 142 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £70,000 (£492 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 Walsall · Walsall local authority: places and applications

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

• Calthorpe Academy Birmingham
• Kitts Green Academy Birmingham
• Corley Academy Coventry
• Kingsbury Academy Coventry
• The Warwickshire Academy Coventry
• Baginton Fields Academy Coventry

What is Mary Elliot Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Mary Elliot Academy is Expected standard, from an inspection in May 2026.

When was Mary Elliot Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Mary Elliot Academy was last inspected in May 2026.

How many pupils does Mary Elliot Academy have?

Mary Elliot Academy has 148 pupils on roll.

What age range does Mary Elliot Academy cover?

Mary Elliot Academy for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Mary Elliot Academy?

Mary Elliot Academy is at Leamore Lane, Walsall, WS2 7DQ.