Severndale Specialist Academy, Shrewsbury
Severndale Specialist Academy is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Shrewsbury, part of Learning Community Trust. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Severndale Specialist Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Severndale Specialist Academy are Harlescott House School (1.8 miles, Good); Bettws Lifehouse (2.1 miles, Good); The Keystone Academy (3 miles); and Oakwood School (3.5 miles, Good).
Harlescott House SchoolBettws LifehouseThe Keystone AcademyOakwood School
The trust
Severndale Specialist Academy is one of 13 schools run by Learning Community Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
58 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Severndale Specialist Academy (as of September 2025): 86% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 77% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (91%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (71%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 28 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 96% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 4% to a further education college.
Who goes there
43.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 3.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Severndale Specialist Academy has an education, health and care plan (424 of 424 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Severndale Specialist Academy provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Shrewsbury Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bridgeford Way Jct (adjacent), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 152 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Shropshire (10), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Severndale Specialist Academy issued 10 suspensions, 2.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; 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
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Severndale has created a warm, welcoming environment where pupils are eager to attend and feel valued. The school's vision of 'enabling communication, independence and enjoyment for life' drives everything it does, with strong teaching that helps pupils achieve their potential. Parents particularly appreciate the care, support and happiness their children experience.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on communication across the curriculum helps all pupils access learning successfully
- Excellent reading provision with staff commitment ensuring all pupils develop reading skills
- Well-designed practical learning experiences that prepare post-16 students for adulthood and work
- Positive relationships between staff and pupils create a calm, welcoming environment
- Effective support for pupil behaviour management from early years through to sixth form
Areas for Improvement
- Targets from pupils' Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans are sometimes too general and do not reflect specific individual needs
- Some inconsistencies in how the curriculum is delivered from class to class
- School checks on curriculum delivery are not focused enough on identifying where implementation needs improvement
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school's 'Severndale Way' ensuring pupils can communicate concerns and staff respond quickly to any safety issues.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, community activities, cultural trips to London, workplace learning, home skills development
Severndale Specialist Academy is a special school serving pupils aged 2 to 19 with a wide range of needs. The school has made significant improvements since its previous inspection and is now judged Good across all areas.
At a Glance
43.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Speech and language +5
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
58 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Severndale Specialist Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Severndale Specialist Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Severndale Specialist Academy is in Shropshire; for families living there:
Apply to Shropshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 13
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 11 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 Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 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
113%
Over capacity
424 pupils
375 places
49 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Shrewsbury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Shrewsbury
Across Shropshire council
Places available
3,213
Applications
2,845
Got 1st preference
91.0%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All secondary applications across Shropshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
424
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Severndale Specialist Academy provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
424
Total Pupils
316
Boys
108
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
70
Teachers
6.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,830
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.0%
Overall absence
29.5%
Persistent absence
342
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
Severndale Specialist Academy
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Severndale Specialist Academy
What are GCSE results like at Severndale Specialist Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Severndale Specialist Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 2. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Severndale Specialist Academy's Ofsted rating?
Severndale Specialist Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Severndale Specialist Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Severndale Specialist Academy is oversubscribed, Shropshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Severndale Specialist Academy?
Severndale Specialist Academy has around 424 pupils on roll. 44% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Severndale Specialist Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Severndale Specialist Academy provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Severndale Specialist Academy?
11% of sessions were missed at Severndale Specialist Academy in 2024/25. 29.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Severndale Specialist Academy?
Apply through Shropshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Severndale Specialist 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 Severndale Specialist Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 11 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 Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Severndale Specialist Academy?
Severndale Specialist Academy is at Woodcote Way, Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 5SH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)