The Woodlands Academy, Scarborough
The Woodlands Academy is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 16 in Scarborough, part of Horizons Specialist Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
The Woodlands Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Woodlands Academy are Springhead School (1.2 miles, Outstanding); and Cambian Scarborough School (3.4 miles, Good).
The trust
The Woodlands Academy is one of 8 schools run by Horizons Specialist Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 21 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 76% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college.
Who goes there
57.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Woodlands Academy has an education, health and care plan (146 of 146 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
The Woodlands Academy provides for pupils with autism, social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Scarborough Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Woodlands School hospital entrance (e-bound), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 143 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Woodlands Academy issued 12 suspensions, 8.7 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
57.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Autism, SEMH, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby schools
Keep up with The Woodlands Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Woodlands Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Woodlands Academy is in North Yorkshire; for families living there:
Apply to North Yorkshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 17
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 14 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 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 North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 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
107%
Over capacity
146 pupils
136 places
10 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Scarborough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Scarborough
Across North Yorkshire council
Places available
7,086
Applications
5,586
Got 1st preference
91.9%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All secondary applications across North Yorkshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
146
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Woodlands Academy provides for pupils with autism, social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
146
Total Pupils
99
Boys
47
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
7.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,060
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
16.0%
Overall absence
48.3%
Persistent absence
147
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
Questions parents ask about The Woodlands Academy
What are SATs results like at The Woodlands Academy?
Of the pupils at The Woodlands Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is The Woodlands Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Woodlands Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2020 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for The Woodlands Academy?
No fixed boundary. When The Woodlands Academy is oversubscribed, North Yorkshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Woodlands Academy?
The Woodlands Academy has around 146 pupils on roll. 58% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Woodlands Academy have specialist SEN provision?
The Woodlands Academy provides for pupils with autism, social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at The Woodlands Academy?
16% of sessions were missed at The Woodlands Academy in 2024/25. 48.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Woodlands Academy?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming The Woodlands 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 The Woodlands Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 14 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 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 North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Woodlands Academy?
The Woodlands Academy is at Woodlands Drive, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO12 6QN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)