Venture Academy, Henley-in-Arden
Venture Academy is a special school for pupils aged 9 to 16 in Henley-in-Arden, part of Macintyre Academies. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Venture Academy in detail
Venture Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Being the Principal of Venture Academy, means that my days are busy, fun and filled with interactions with our pupils. Our school thrives on a good mix of teamwork and care, from both the pupils and the staff."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Venture is a specialist academy in Warwickshire for 50 children and young people with an autism spectrum condition or an identified social, emotional or mental health need aged 9 - 16 years."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
The trust
Venture Academy is one of 4 schools run by Macintyre Academies, an academy trust.
What parents say
15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Venture Academy (as of September 2025): 87% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 86% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school supports their child's wider development (93%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (80%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 10 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 80% to a further education college.
Who goes there
67.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (92%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at Venture Academy has an education, health and care plan (49 of 49 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Venture Academy has a resourced provision for autism and social, emotional and mental health needs: 50 places, 49 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Henley-in-Arden Rail Station, about 650 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is River House School (adjacent), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 15 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and robbery. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Warwickshire (88).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Venture Academy issued 34 suspensions, 70.8 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); 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
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Venture Academy excels at making pupils feel valued and understood. Staff go above and beyond to support each child's learning and emotional wellbeing, with a curriculum tailored to individual needs. The school offers an impressive range of enrichment activities - from Duke of Edinburgh's Award to outdoor education and community involvement - that help pupils grow in confidence and prepare them for their future.
Key Strengths
- Staff build strong, compassionate relationships with pupils who feel understood and safe
- Personalized learning routes that address individual gaps and emotional needs, with particular success in helping struggling readers
- Exceptional personal development through trips, residentials, outdoor education, Duke of Edinburgh's Award and community involvement
- High expectations leading to increased GCSE entries and all Year 11 pupils progressing to suitable next steps
- Expert careers guidance tailored to each pupil's ambitions
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not always check understanding effectively during lessons, meaning activities can be too easy or too difficult for some pupils
- Lack of suitable calm-down spaces for pupils experiencing anxiety or sensory triggers - current spaces are too noisy or bright
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff creating a positive culture focused on pupils' interests and safety.
Extracurricular Activities
Residentials, outdoor education curriculum, The King's Trust activities, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, enrichment days, trips to places of worship, school council
Venture Academy is a special school where staff show genuine care and understanding for pupils, helping those who have had negative experiences at other schools. The school has improved significantly since its last inspection and now provides an ambitious, tailored curriculum with excellent support for personal development.
At a Glance
67.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Autism, SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
15 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby schools
Keep up with Venture Academy
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Venture Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Venture Academy is in Warwickshire; for families living there:
- Warwickshire's school travel policy: Free school transport for students under the age of 16
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 4 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 Warwickshire is 7 (the median across 286 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
98%
Near capacity
49 pupils
50 places
1 spare place
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Henley-in-Arden
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Henley-in-Arden
Across Warwickshire council
Places available
7,662
Applications
6,716
Got 1st preference
82.3%
Got preferred school
97.2%
All secondary applications across Warwickshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
49
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Venture Academy has a resourced provision for autism and social, emotional and mental health needs: 50 places, 49 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
49
Total Pupils
38
Boys
11
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
4.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,798
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
19.5%
Overall absence
53.8%
Persistent absence
52
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 Venture Academy
What are GCSE results like at Venture Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Venture Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 5.6. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Venture Academy's Ofsted rating?
Venture Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Venture Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Venture Academy is oversubscribed, Warwickshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Venture Academy?
Venture Academy has around 49 pupils on roll. 67% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Venture Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Venture Academy has a resourced provision for autism and social, emotional and mental health needs: 50 places, 49 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Venture Academy?
19.5% of sessions were missed at Venture Academy in 2024/25. 53.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Venture Academy?
Apply through Warwickshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Venture 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 Venture Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 4 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 Warwickshire is 7 (the median across 286 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Venture Academy?
Venture Academy is at Stratford Road, Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, B95 6AD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)