St James' Catholic High School is a mainstream secondary school in Cheadle, Stockport, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 77 of its 824 pupils (9.3%) were getting SEN support and 35 (4.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 824 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Stockport.
9.3% get SEN support
77 of 824 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
4.2% have an EHC plan
35 of 824 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism35
- Social, emotional and mental health35
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia16
- Speech, language and communication11
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 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 824 (places for 825)
- Headteacher
- Mr Anthony Pontifex
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 15.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Stockport
- School reference (URN)
- 106142
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 Stockport 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, April 2026: Expected standard in 5 of 6 areas
Inspected in April 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, February 2022).
Contact and getting there
St James' Way, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, SK8 6PZ
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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
- Thorn Grove Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Willow House School Independent · Ages 5–14 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.6 miles
- Royal School, Manchester Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.6 miles
- Bradshaw Hall Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Cheadle Hulme High School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 13.7%, EHC plans 2.9% 0.6 miles
- Hursthead Infant School Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 4.5%, EHC plans 0.8% 0.7 miles
- Hursthead Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 10.5%, EHC plans 1.7% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Stockport SEND schools in Stockport
Questions about St James' Catholic High School
How many pupils at St James' Catholic High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 77 of the 824 pupils (9.3%) were getting SEN support and 35 (4.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St James' Catholic High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (35 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (35 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (16 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St James' 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 St James' Catholic High School?
Through Stockport 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 St James' Catholic High School?
You can ask for St James' 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 St James' 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 Thorn Grove Primary School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is St James' Catholic High School?
St James' Way, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, SK8 6PZ, in Stockport.
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.