Highfield Littleport Academy, Ely

Ofsted's report card from its 7 July 2026 inspection grades Highfield Littleport Academy on 6 areas: 4 needs attention and 2 urgent improvement. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Overall, pupils' attendance is above the national average for special schools."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Although staff use pupils' education, health and care plans to shape provision, there is too much variation in how well they deliver it to help pupils work towards their long-term goals."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Standards slipped suddenly because of turbulence in leadership."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "The school has facilities that support pupils' wider development, such as an accessible gym that helps pupils build physical strength and a mock flat, where older pupils practise independent or semi-independent living."

Achievement - Urgent improvement. "Pupils who are pre-verbal or nonverbal do not build their communication skills securely."

Curriculum and teaching - Urgent improvement. "The purpose behind the different curriculum pathways has become unclear."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders must define clear curriculum pathways and align these with assessment so that staff plan coherent learning for pupils"; "Leaders must guide staff to review which approaches reduce learning barriers for pupils, adjusting any that do not show clear, measurable impact on what pupils achieve"; "Leaders must ensure that teaching responds to pupils' needs so that pupils can access learning, engage purposefully and build knowledge securely"; "Leaders must help staff select and teach suitable communication approaches for pupils who need them, ensuring regular chances to practise communicating with increasing independence"; "Leaders must ensure that staff identify and address gaps in pupils' foundational knowledge so that all pupils achieve well, including those capable of gaining qualifications that broaden future opportunities"; "Leaders should establish suitable strategies to reduce persistent absenteeism among disadvantaged pupils, communicating expectations clearly and monitoring progress closely to secure sustained improvement in attendance"; "Leaders should ensure that staff use suitable strategies for calm, effective responses to unsettled behaviour, enabling pupils to remain settled and focused on learning"; "Leaders should extend the personal development programme, so that pupils encounter broader opportunities that support their growth, interests and emerging talents".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Highfield Littleport Academy is an area special school for pupils aged 2-19 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). We support pupils with a range of learning difficulties, meeting their communication, sensory, physical and medical needs alongside helping them fulfil their academic potential."

The nearest other special schools to Highfield Littleport Academy are Highfield Ely Academy (4.3 miles, Good); and Active Learning Trust Linc 19 - 25 (4.4 miles, Good).

Highfield Littleport Academy is one of 21 schools run by The Active Learning Trust Limited, an academy trust.

Of the 19 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 79% to a further education college.

49.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 6.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (80%) and Mixed (8%).

Almost every pupil at Highfield Littleport Academy has an education, health and care plan (162 of 162 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.

Highfield Littleport Academy provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

The nearest railway station is Littleport Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Elm Side (near), 230 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 123 crimes within a mile of the school, most often shoplifting, violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cambridgeshire (57), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Highfield Littleport Academy issued 6 suspensions, 4.1 for every 100 pupils, and 1 permanent exclusion.