Wyvern Academy, Weymouth
Wyvern Academy is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Weymouth, part of Southern Education Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Wyvern Academy in detail
Wyvern Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Here at Wyvern Academy our vision is to provide a bespoke education tailored to each pupil, delivered in a creative and nurturing environment, inspiring all who work and learn with us to develop their full potential."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Wyvern Academy is a purpose-built school in Weymouth for children and young people aged from 2 to 19 with complex needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Our purpose-built school is part of an educational campus that includes a mainstream primary and secondary school as well as a nursery/childcare provider."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Wyvern Academy are Westfield Arts College (1.5 miles, Outstanding); Arbour House School (1.6 miles, Outstanding); and Kingfisher School (1.9 miles).
The trust
Wyvern Academy is one of 11 schools run by Southern Education Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
45.3% 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 Wyvern Academy has an education, health and care plan (95 of 95 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Upwey Rail Station, about 850 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wey Valley School Exit (s-bound), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 92 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Dorset (25), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Wyvern Academy issued 1 suspension, 1.1 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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 July 2015, 11 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 November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Wyvern Academy provides an exceptionally nurturing environment where pupils thrive through strong relationships with caring staff who understand their individual needs extremely well. The school combines a carefully planned curriculum with wonderful practical experiences - from hydrotherapy and sensory activities to community trips and work skills - that build pupils' confidence and independence. High expectations run through everything the school does, with no limits placed on pupils' ambitions.
Key Strengths
- Excellent pastoral care and nurturing relationships where pupils receive expert support tailored to their individual needs
- Well-designed curriculum with strong focus on communication, reading, writing and mathematics
- Impressive pupil behaviour with effective emotional support when needed
- Strong provision for independence skills including movement, physical development and life skills like travel training and cooking
- Rich opportunities beyond the classroom including trips, work experience, and activities in the community
Areas for Improvement
- Staff understanding of assessment methods for early stages of learning varies, which sometimes means teaching does not precisely meet pupils' needs
- Teaching not always fully informed by assessment of pupils' engagement, which can slow progress across the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Open orchestra, sports, music, hydrotherapy pool, interactive sensory room, soft-play area, adventurous activities, farm visits, garden visits, sporting venue visits, school council roles, internal work experience
Wyvern Academy is a special school for pupils with severe or profound learning difficulties that has maintained strong standards since its previous good judgment. The school provides high-quality pastoral support and a well-designed, individualized curriculum that helps pupils flourish.
At a Glance
45.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
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 Wyvern Academy
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Wyvern Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Wyvern Academy is in Dorset; for families living there:
Apply to Dorset for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 16
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 9 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
3 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 Dorset is 3 (the median across 184 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
106%
Over capacity
95 pupils
90 places
5 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Weymouth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Weymouth
Across Dorset council
Places available
2,797
Applications
2,105
Got 1st preference
97.9%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All secondary applications across Dorset council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
95
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
95
Total Pupils
68
Boys
27
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
19.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£66,432
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.4%
Overall absence
32.1%
Persistent absence
78
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 Wyvern Academy
What are SATs results like at Wyvern Academy?
Of the pupils at Wyvern Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Wyvern Academy's Ofsted rating?
Wyvern Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Wyvern Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Wyvern Academy is oversubscribed, Dorset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Wyvern Academy?
Wyvern Academy has around 95 pupils on roll. 45% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Wyvern Academy?
10.4% of sessions were missed at Wyvern Academy in 2024/25. 32.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Wyvern Academy?
Apply through Dorset's coordinated admissions process, naming Wyvern 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 Wyvern Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 9 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 3 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 Dorset is 3 (the median across 184 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Wyvern Academy?
Wyvern Academy is at Dorchester Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 5AL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)