Stephenson Academy, Milton Keynes
Stephenson Academy is a special school for pupils aged 9 to 16 in Milton Keynes, part of Stephenson (mk) Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2018)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Stephenson Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Stephenson Academy are Willow Park School (0.7 miles); Redwood Park School (2.7 miles); Slated Row School (2.7 miles, Outstanding); and The Redway School (3.1 miles, Good).
Willow Park SchoolRedwood Park SchoolSlated Row SchoolThe Redway School
The trust
Stephenson Academy is one of 2 schools run by Stephenson (mk) Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Stephenson Academy (as of September 2025): 46% would recommend the school, 69% say their child is happy there and 43% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (85%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (39%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 56% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 19% to a further education college.
Who goes there
66.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%) and Mixed (16%).
Almost every pupil at Stephenson Academy has an education, health and care plan (120 of 120 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Stephenson Academy provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wolverton Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Great Linford Local Centre (opposite), 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Stephenson Academy issued 290 suspensions, 247.9 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from December 2018, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at understanding and supporting pupils' emotional wellbeing while maintaining high academic expectations. Staff tailor teaching to each pupil's individual needs, and many pupils achieve GCSE qualifications. The school also prioritises practical life skills, careers guidance, and helping pupils develop confidence to manage their own behaviour.
Key Strengths
- Staff build warm, trusting relationships and understand pupils' emotional and mental health needs well, helping them feel safe
- Pupils learn a broad, balanced curriculum with strong focus on reading, writing, life skills, and careers preparation
- Teachers skilled at adapting teaching to each pupil's individual needs using their education, health and care plans, resulting in good achievement
- Behaviour is typically calm and positive, with staff well-trained in helping pupils manage emotions and reset after incidents
- School works hard to support pupils' attendance with tailored approaches including online tutoring and calm learning spaces
Areas for Improvement
- Many pupils do not attend school regularly enough, limiting their access to the full benefits of school
- New part-time timetable approaches for vulnerable pupils show early promise but their full impact is not yet clear
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear procedures in place to keep pupils safe.
Extracurricular Activities
cycling trips, farm visits, team sports, vocational subjects
Stephenson Academy is a special school for pupils aged 9-16 with social, emotional and mental health needs. The school maintains good quality education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership.
At a Glance
66.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
13 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 Stephenson Academy
Before and after school care
Stephenson Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Milton Keynes
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Stephenson Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Stephenson Academy is in Milton Keynes; for families living there:
- Milton Keynes's school travel policy: School Travel Support Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
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 Milton Keynes is 8 (the median across 125 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
100%
Full
120 pupils
120 places
No spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Milton Keynes
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Milton Keynes
Across Milton Keynes council
Places available
3,905
Applications
3,768
Got 1st preference
82.2%
Got preferred school
96.9%
All secondary applications across Milton Keynes council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
120
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Stephenson Academy provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
120
Total Pupils
103
Boys
17
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
5.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,566
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
39.5%
Overall absence
79.3%
Persistent absence
121
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
Stephenson Academy
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Stephenson Academy
What are GCSE results like at Stephenson Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Stephenson Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 2.3. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Stephenson Academy's Ofsted rating?
Stephenson Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2018, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Stephenson Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Stephenson Academy is oversubscribed, Milton Keynes allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Stephenson Academy?
Stephenson Academy has around 120 pupils on roll. 67% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Stephenson Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Stephenson Academy provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Stephenson Academy?
39.5% of sessions were missed at Stephenson Academy in 2024/25. 79.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Stephenson Academy?
Apply through Milton Keynes's coordinated admissions process, naming Stephenson 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.
Does Stephenson Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Stephenson Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Stephenson Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 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 Milton Keynes is 8 (the median across 125 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Stephenson Academy?
Stephenson Academy is at Crosslands, Stantonbury, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK14 6AX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)