Physis Academy
Heath Road, Whitchurch, SY13 2AAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Physis Academy is a special school in Whitchurch for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 183 schools in Shropshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 21 November 2023, report published 18 January 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 21 November 2023
Building positive relationships between staff and pupils, and amongst pupils is the hallmark of this school. Pupils, parents, and carers value the level of care and support that the school provides. As a result, pupils feel protected and safe. The school has high expectations for all pupils. When pupils join the school, many have failed at their previous setting and have been out of education for some time. Pupils are often switched off from learning. The school works tirelessly with pupils to re-engage them with their education, so they can achieve well and improve their future life chances. Leaders and staff know the pupils inside and out. They notice any changes in a pupil's behaviour and step in quickly to offer help and support when required. As a result, pupils are quickly refocused so that the minimum amount of learning is lost. The school's therapeutic programme dovetails well with the academic curriculum. It helps pupils to make sense of their emotions and understand their past experiences. This in turn helps to improve their self-esteem. Parents and carers value the difference that the school make to the pupils' lives. One parent described the school's work with her daughter as 'life changing.'
What the school should improve
- In some subjects, particularly in Years 7, 8 and 9, the curriculum does not clearly set out the knowledge and skills that pupils will learn within and across year groups. This means that staff are not always clear about what to teach and the order in which to teach it. The school should ensure that the curriculum maps out the knowledge and skills that pupils will learn over time in all subjects.
- The school does not have a system in place to identify gaps in pupils' phonics knowledge. This means gaps in pupils' phonics knowledge remain unchecked, and pupils do not get the help they need to catch up. The school should develop a system to identify potential gaps in pupils' phonics knowledge, so that they can be addressed.
Pupil numbers and mix
12 pupils on roll, with places for 45
Schools near Physis Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn Wood | 4 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Woodlands School | 9 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Attainment 8: 4.9 |
| Smallbrook School | 10 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 2.7 |
| Access School | 11 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| The Axis Academy | 12 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 12.2 |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr James Nation
- Phone
- 01948841070
- Address
- Heath Road, Whitchurch, SY13 2AA
- Local authority
- Shropshire
- URN
- 138580
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.