Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College is a mainstream secondary school in Altrincham, Trafford, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 302 of its 1,638 pupils (18.4%) were getting SEN support and 62 (3.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,638 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Trafford.
18.4% get SEN support
302 of 1,638 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.8% have an EHC plan
62 of 1,638 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia96
- Social, emotional and mental health89
- Moderate learning difficulty37
- Autism36
- Speech, language and communication36
- Physical disability9
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 and girls
- Pupils
- 1,638 (places for 1,700)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Clare Hogg
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 14.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Trafford
- School reference (URN)
- 106376
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 Trafford 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
Graded by area, March 2025
Inspected in March 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Urban Road, Altrincham, WA15 8HT
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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
- Wellington School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Pictor Academy Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.1 miles
- Broomwood Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
- The Watkin Centre Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 1.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College
How many pupils at Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 302 of the 1,638 pupils (18.4%) were getting SEN support and 62 (3.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (96 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (89 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (37 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic 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 Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College?
Through Trafford 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 Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College?
You can ask for Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic 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 Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic 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 Wellington School, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College?
Urban Road, Altrincham, WA15 8HT, in Trafford.
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.