Saxon Hill Academy, Lichfield

Ofsted's report card from its 25 November 2025 inspection grades Saxon Hill Academy on 7 areas: 7 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils make substantial progress through the curriculum pathways because learning is highly personalised."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils learn in a calm, orderly environment where respect and care are commonplace."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "The curriculum is ambitious and carefully designed to meet the needs of every pupil."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Saxon Hill is a school where every child is valued."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders and governors are highly effective."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The personal development curriculum is ambitious and tailored to pupils' needs and ambitions."

Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "The post-16 curriculum is ambitious and tailored to individual aspirations."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders and those responsible for governance should continue their work to ensure a strong standard across all evaluation areas is sustained and has a transformative impact on every pupil".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Saxon Hill Academy is an all-age (2-19) special school for children with complex medical needs and physical disabilities. With opportunities for short term residential stays at our 'Outstanding' Sleepover Club. A proud member of the Shaw Education Trust, Saxon Hill Academy serves families from across Staffordshire."

The nearest other special schools to Saxon Hill Academy are Queen's Croft High School (0.4 miles, Good); Beacon Independent School (0.6 miles); Rocklands School (1.3 miles, Good); and Maple Hayes Hall School (1.7 miles, Good, selective).

Saxon Hill Academy is one of 31 schools run by The Shaw Education Trust, an academy trust.

18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Saxon Hill Academy (as of April 2026): 67% would recommend the school, 78% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (78%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

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

37.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 7.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (82%) and Mixed (5%).

Almost every pupil at Saxon Hill Academy has an education, health and care plan (130 of 130 in 2026). The most common need among them is a profound and multiple learning difficulty.

Saxon Hill Academy has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 125 places, 133 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Lichfield City Rail Station, about 530 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is King Edward School (adjacent), 290 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 173 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86), as is usual near a town centre.

Saxon Hill Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.