Kenwood Academy, Sheffield

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Kenwood Academy on 7 areas: 4 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Leaders recognise that pupils' excellent achievements take many forms."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Many pupils join the school with historical low attendance."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "The school demonstrates a highly positive and inclusive ethos."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's personal development programme is high quality and tailored to the school's context."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Across school sites, the curriculum that pupils learn is ambitious and typically well designed and delivered."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including those responsible for governance, are skilful and knowledgeable."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure students are well equipped for their next steps in education, employment and training."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure the standard of curriculum delivery and implementation is highly consistent across all areas of the school's work".

In its own words: "Kenwood Academy is a special learning community for neurodiverse young people in South Yorkshire, where everyone belongs and everyone has a voice. All staff, students, families, Governors, Trustees and partners work together as a team to realise our young people's future dreams, opportunities and destinations."

The nearest other special schools to Kenwood Academy are Brantwood Garden School (0.3 miles, Good); Freeman College (1.4 miles, Good); Seven Hills School (1.6 miles, Good); and Seven Hills School (1.6 miles).

Kenwood Academy is one of 23 schools run by Nexus Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

93 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Kenwood Academy (as of April 2026): 62% would recommend the school, 56% say their child is happy there and 23% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (62%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (23%).

Of the 17 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.

40.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

Almost every pupil at Kenwood Academy has an education, health and care plan (282 of 282 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.

The nearest tram or metro stop is University of Sheffield to Middlewood, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Psalter Lane/Cowlishaw Road (near), 110 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 590 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 Sheffield (267), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Kenwood Academy issued 32 suspensions, 12.7 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.