Lotus Academy, Sheffield
Lotus Academy is a special school for pupils aged 6 to 16 in Sheffield, part of Nexus Multi Academy Trust.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Lotus Academy in detail
Lotus Academy in its own words
In its own words: "At Lotus Academy, we envision a community where every pupil feels valued, understood, and empowered to succeed. We strive to develop confident, resilient individuals who communicate effectively, build healthy relationships, and take pride in their achievements as they prepare for a fulfilling future. We always give our best effort, show perseverance, and take pride in our learning and achievements."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted to welcome you to Lotus Academy, a specialist provision for young people aged 7-16 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH). At Lotus, we are committed to providing a nurturing and caring environment where every pupil feels valued, understood, and supported as they embark on their individual learning journeys."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Lotus Academy are Woolley Wood School (1 mile, Good); Abbey School (2.5 miles, Outstanding); Kelford School (3 miles, Good); and Freeman College (3.4 miles, Good).
Woolley Wood SchoolAbbey SchoolKelford SchoolFreeman College
The trust
Lotus Academy is one of 23 schools run by Nexus Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
82.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 5.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Mixed (8%).
Almost every pupil at Lotus Academy has an education, health and care plan (108 of 108 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Leppings Lane to Middlewood, about 1.9 miles away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Deerlands Avenue/Lindsay Road (adjacent), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Lotus Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Lotus Academy issued 114 suspensions, 126.7 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Lotus Academy has not been inspected by Ofsted since it took its current form in September 2024. Before that, as Holgate Meadows School (URN 126712), it was rated Inadequate in March 2022.
At a Glance
82.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Lotus Academy
From Lotus Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Lotus Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lotus Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lotus 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
- 18
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 11 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
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
108%
Over capacity
108 pupils
100 places
8 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.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
108
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
108
Total Pupils
93
Boys
15
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
4.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,493
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
31.8%
Overall absence
70.1%
Persistent absence
97
Enrolments
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
Lotus Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Lotus Academy
What are GCSE results like at Lotus Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Lotus Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 7.1. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Lotus Academy's Ofsted rating?
Lotus Academy has not been inspected by Ofsted since it took its current form in September 2024. Before that, as Holgate Meadows School (URN 126712), it was rated Inadequate in March 2022.
What is the catchment area for Lotus Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Lotus Academy is oversubscribed, Sheffield allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Lotus Academy?
Lotus Academy has around 108 pupils on roll. 82% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Lotus Academy?
31.8% of sessions were missed at Lotus Academy in 2024/25. 70.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lotus Academy?
Apply through Sheffield's coordinated admissions process, naming Lotus 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 Lotus Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 11 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 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 Lotus Academy?
Lotus Academy is at Lindsay Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S5 7WE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)