Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School is a mainstream secondary school in Liverpool for boys aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 325 of its 1,338 pupils (24.3%) were getting SEN support and 85 (6.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,338 pupils
- Boys only
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Liverpool.
24.3% get SEN support
325 of 1,338 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
6.4% have an EHC plan
85 of 1,338 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health166
- Autism150
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia42
- Speech, language and communication22
- Physical disability11
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Voluntary aided school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys only
- Pupils
- 1,338 (places for 1,394)
- Headteacher
- Ms Karen Smyth
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 32.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Liverpool
- School reference (URN)
- 104714
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Liverpool council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Report card, January 2026: Strong standard in 3 of 7 areas
Inspected in January 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Post-16Expected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Honeysgreen Lane, Liverpool, L12 9HZ
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- St Vincent's School - A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.3 miles
- Knotty Ash Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Clifford Holroyde Sen College Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- East Prescot Road Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–4 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Broughton Hall Catholic High School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 13.8%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.1 miles
- Blackmoor Park Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 28%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.2 miles
- Blackmoor Park Infants' School Primary · Ages 0–7 · SEN support 9.8%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Liverpool SEND schools in Liverpool
Questions about Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School
How many pupils at Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 325 of the 1,338 pupils (24.3%) were getting SEN support and 85 (6.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (166 pupils), autism (150 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (42 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School?
Through Liverpool council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School?
You can ask for Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Knotty Ash Primary School, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School?
Honeysgreen Lane, Liverpool, L12 9HZ, in Liverpool.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.