Springwell Leeds Academy, Leeds
Springwell Leeds Academy is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in Leeds, part of Wellspring Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Springwell Leeds Academy in detail
Springwell Leeds Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Springwell Leeds is a specialist academy, established in September 2016, which serves the whole of Leeds. We aim to provide the best possible care and education that we can for children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Springwell Leeds Academy are Broomfield South SILC (0.3 miles, Good); Fountain House Education Suite (1.6 miles); Cockburn Reach Academy (1.7 miles); and Co-op Academy Brierley (1.9 miles).
Broomfield South SILCFountain House Education SuiteCockburn Reach AcademyCo-op Academy Brierley
The trust
Springwell Leeds Academy is one of 33 schools run by Wellspring Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
51 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Springwell Leeds Academy (as of September 2025): 78% would recommend the school, 80% say their child is happy there and 66% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (88%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (66%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 47 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 49% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 45% to a further education college and 2% into work.
Who goes there
75.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (80%) and Mixed (10%).
Almost every pupil at Springwell Leeds Academy has an education, health and care plan (356 of 356 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Springwell Leeds Academy has a SEN unit for social, emotional and mental health needs: 340 places, 298 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Leeds Rail Station, about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Windmill Close, 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Springwell Leeds 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, Springwell Leeds Academy issued 23 suspensions, 6.7 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 agoThis judgement is from June 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Springwell Leeds creates a warm, nurturing environment where pupils with complex needs flourish. Staff build strong relationships with each pupil and provide thoughtful support to help them manage their emotions and improve their behaviour over time. The school offers a broad range of enriching experiences including trips, art, music and college visits, preparing pupils well for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Strong positive relationships and calm culture help pupils feel safe and engage constructively with learning
- Expert teaching of phonics and reading with targeted support for pupils who need it
- Comprehensive pastoral support and opportunities for personal development including trips, art and music
- Well-managed behaviour with clear expectations and swift, expert support from staff
- High ambitions for all pupils with careful attention to their EHC plans and individual needs
Areas for Improvement
- Pupil attendance remains a concern - more work needed to get some pupils attending regularly
- Assessment in some wider curriculum subjects is not embedded well enough, leaving some pupils with gaps in knowledge
- Some pupils are not deepening their understanding in certain subjects due to weaker assessment practices
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with staff helping pupils know who to share worries with and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Trips, art, music, college visits for older pupils, football, relaxation activities during breaktimes
Springwell Leeds Academy has maintained the good standards from its previous inspection. This special school for pupils with complex needs creates a nurturing environment where pupils develop strong relationships with staff and engage well with their education.
At a Glance
75.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEN unit: SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
51 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)
Reading has declined from 20% to 0% (2024 to 2025), while writing has remained stable at around 3% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Springwell Leeds Academy
Music Teacher of the Year Winner !
18 Sep 2026
Parent Pop In Sessions
15 Sep 2026
Open Events at Leeds City College
8 Sep 2026
Inspiring Story: How One Leeds Care Leaver Transformed His Future
7 Sep 2026
Happy Birthday Springwell Leeds !
1 Sep 2026
School Meals information
13 Jul 2026
From Springwell Leeds Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Springwell Leeds Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Springwell Leeds Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Springwell Leeds Academy is in Leeds; for families living there:
Apply to Leeds for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 18
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 5
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.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 Leeds is 18.5 (the median across 308 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
178%
Over capacity
356 pupils
200 places
156 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Leeds
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Leeds
Across Leeds council
Places available
10,015
Applications
9,313
Got 1st preference
83.2%
Got preferred school
95.4%
All secondary applications across Leeds council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
356
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Springwell Leeds Academy has a SEN unit for social, emotional and mental health needs: 340 places, 298 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
356
Total Pupils
311
Boys
45
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
67
Teachers
5.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,675
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
30.4%
Overall absence
62.2%
Persistent absence
352
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
Springwell Leeds Academy
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Springwell Leeds Academy
What are GCSE results like at Springwell Leeds Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Springwell Leeds Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 3.7. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Springwell Leeds Academy's Ofsted rating?
Springwell Leeds Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Springwell Leeds Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Springwell Leeds Academy is oversubscribed, Leeds allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Springwell Leeds Academy?
Springwell Leeds Academy has around 356 pupils on roll. 75% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Springwell Leeds Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Springwell Leeds Academy has a SEN unit for social, emotional and mental health needs: 340 places, 298 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Springwell Leeds Academy?
30.4% of sessions were missed at Springwell Leeds Academy in 2024/25. 62.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Springwell Leeds Academy?
Apply through Leeds's coordinated admissions process, naming Springwell Leeds 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 Springwell Leeds 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. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Leeds is 18.5 (the median across 308 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Springwell Leeds Academy?
Springwell Leeds Academy is at Middleton Road, Leeds, LS10 3JA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)