SchoolScoresIndependent school guide

Discovery Special Academy

Special free school · All-through, ages 2 to 16 · Mixed · Nursery class

Part of TEES VALLEY EDUCATION

Sandy Flatts Lane, Middlesbrough, TS5 7YN

01642 248333 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 18 January 2023
Pupils187Room for 181
Free school meals77%of pupils eligible now

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 18 January 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

15 pupils in this year group.

0% — 63 points below the Middlesbrough average, and 62 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMiddlesbroughEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 0% 63% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 0% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 0% 74% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 0% 75% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 0% 74% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. Not published 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. Not published 105 105

"Not published": No figure published.

Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 0%This school 2023/24: 0%This school 2024/25: 0% This school England 62% 2022/23 0% 2023/24 0% 2024/25 0%

Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Middlesbrough. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

Admissions dates and schools in Middlesbrough

Pupils, staff and SEND

This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round.

PupilsThis schoolMiddlesbroughEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 70.4% 64.6%* 51.9%
With an education, health and care plan 98.3% 99.4%* 99.5%
Receiving special educational needs support 1.8% 0.6%* 0.5%
English as an additional language 19.3% 13.2%* 14.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed) 6.8% 12.4%* 12.8%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 19.4% 31.5%* 35.3%
Suspensions per 100 pupils 0.6 7.3 12.3
Pupils suspended at least once 0.6% 3.9% 5.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.00% 0.08%
Pupils per teacher 7.6 6.8 6.6
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2.4 2.6 2.3
Teachers who left during the year 10.6% 15.7%* 14.3%*

Comparisons are with special schools. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby special schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Discovery Special Academy's Ofsted rating?

Discovery Special Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 18 January 2023.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.