St Damian's RC Science College is a mainstream secondary school in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 77 of its 829 pupils (9.3%) were getting SEN support and 33 (4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 829 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Tameside.
9.3% get SEN support
77 of 829 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
4% have an EHC plan
33 of 829 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health24
- Autism21
- Speech, language and communication18
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia15
- Moderate learning difficulty5
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
- 829 (places for 825)
- Headteacher
- Mr Russ Conway
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 25.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Tameside
- School reference (URN)
- 106270
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 Tameside 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
Rated Outstanding, November 2017; school remains Outstanding (June 2023)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in November 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Outstanding (ungraded inspection, June 2023).
Contact and getting there
Lees Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 8BH
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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
- Samuel Laycock School Special school · Ages 11–17 0.4 miles
- Rosehill Methodist Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- St James' Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Works 4 U Support Services (Norman Mackie & Associates Ltd) Independent · Ages 16–25 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Holden Clough Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.5%, EHC plans 3.7% 0.3 miles
- Dixons Ashton Academy Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 22.8%, EHC plans 5% 0.4 miles
- St Christopher's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 6%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.4 miles
Questions about St Damian's RC Science College
How many pupils at St Damian's RC Science College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 77 of the 829 pupils (9.3%) were getting SEN support and 33 (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 St Damian's RC Science College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (24 pupils), autism (21 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (18 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Damian's RC Science College?
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 Damian's RC Science College?
Through Tameside 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 Damian's RC Science College?
You can ask for St Damian's RC Science College 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 Damian's RC Science College 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 Rosehill Methodist Primary Academy, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is St Damian's RC Science College?
Lees Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 8BH, in Tameside.
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.