Discovery Academy, Sheffield
Discovery Academy is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 16 in Sheffield, part of Nexus Multi Academy Trust.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Discovery Academy in detail
Discovery Academy in its own words
In its own words: "At Discovery Academy, everything begins with understanding, valuing and supporting; we provide a calm, structured and highly relational environment where every student is known, cared for and able to thrive. Kindness, care and self‑belief sit at the heart of our ethos."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Discovery Academy are Willow Park School (0.1 miles); Seven Hills School (0.2 miles); Seven Hills School (0.2 miles, Good); and Freeman College (0.7 miles, Good).
Willow Park SchoolSeven Hills SchoolSeven Hills SchoolFreeman College
The trust
Discovery Academy is one of 23 schools run by Nexus Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Discovery Academy (as of September 2025): 94% would recommend the school, 89% say their child is happy there and 91% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (100%); the weakest, that their child feels safe (83%).
Who goes there
62.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%) and Mixed (9%).
Almost every pupil at Discovery Academy has an education, health and care plan (121 of 121 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Park Grange Croft to Halfway-Herdings, about 180 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Park Grange Road/Park Grange Croft (adjacent), 150 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Discovery Academy issued 1 suspension, 0.9 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Discovery Academy creates a genuinely nurturing environment where pupils with autism feel safe and valued. Staff work closely with parents and carers to remove barriers to learning, helping pupils re-engage with education and build resilience. The school combines ambitious teaching with personal development that prepares pupils well for life after school, including careers exploration and understanding modern Britain.
Key Strengths
- Strong, nurturing relationships between staff and pupils that build positive behaviour and engagement
- Excellent reading programme with pupils quickly developing confidence and fluency
- Well-planned personal development including online safety, healthy relationships, and careers guidance
- Effective support for pupils' individual needs with careful assessment and removal of learning barriers
- High staff morale with strong professional development support
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers sometimes select learning activities that don't match the ambitious curriculum, limiting pupil progress
- Writing skills development is insufficient, including early writing skills like pencil grip
- Need to ensure each activity directly links to specific curriculum goals
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong culture and systems in place.
Extracurricular Activities
Cooking, art, sport, Friday assemblies, Discovery Crew club, local area trips, nature activities
Discovery Academy is a special school for pupils with Autism Spectrum Condition, rated Good across all areas. The school provides a nurturing, welcoming environment where pupils develop strong relationships with staff and grow in confidence.
At a Glance
62.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
18 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Discovery Academy
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Discovery Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Discovery Academy is in Sheffield; for families living there:
- Sheffield's school travel policy: Home to School Travel and Transport Policy September 2023
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 23
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 23 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 4 serious and 18 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Sheffield is 17 (the median across 193 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
151%
Over capacity
121 pupils
80 places
41 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Sheffield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sheffield
Across Sheffield council
Places available
6,421
Applications
6,416
Got 1st preference
88.7%
Got preferred school
96.6%
All secondary applications across Sheffield council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
121
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
121
Total Pupils
89
Boys
32
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
8.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£44,445
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.4%
Overall absence
27.2%
Persistent absence
114
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Discovery Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Discovery Academy
What are SATs results like at Discovery Academy?
Of the pupils at Discovery Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is the catchment area for Discovery Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Discovery Academy is oversubscribed, Sheffield allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Discovery Academy?
Discovery Academy has around 121 pupils on roll. 63% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Discovery Academy?
9.4% of sessions were missed at Discovery Academy in 2024/25. 27.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Discovery Academy?
Apply through Sheffield's coordinated admissions process, naming Discovery Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Discovery Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 23 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 4 serious and 18 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Sheffield is 17 (the median across 193 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Discovery Academy?
Discovery Academy is at Park Grange Road, Norfolk Park, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S2 3QF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)