Holmfirth High School is a mainstream secondary school in Holmfirth, Kirklees, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 142 of its 1,328 pupils (10.7%) were getting SEN support and 27 (2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,328 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Kirklees.
10.7% get SEN support
142 of 1,328 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2% have an EHC plan
27 of 1,328 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health47
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia24
- Autism17
- Moderate learning difficulty11
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
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,328 (places for 1,330)
- Headteacher
- Mr Ben Stitchman (Executive Headteacher)
- Free school meals
- 17.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Kirklees
- School reference (URN)
- 107769
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 Kirklees 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, June 2023; school remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (February 2022)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in June 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, February 2022).
Contact and getting there
Heys Road, Thongsbridge, Holmfirth, HD9 7SE
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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
- Honley High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.8 miles
- Fable House Independent · Ages 11–19 2.7 miles
- Castle Hill School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 3.0 miles
- Newsome Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 3.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Holmfirth High School
How many pupils at Holmfirth High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 142 of the 1,328 pupils (10.7%) were getting SEN support and 27 (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 Holmfirth 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 (47 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (24 pupils) and autism (17 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Holmfirth 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 Holmfirth High School?
Through Kirklees 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 Holmfirth High School?
You can ask for Holmfirth 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 Holmfirth 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 Honley High School, about 1.8 miles away.
Where is Holmfirth High School?
Heys Road, Thongsbridge, Holmfirth, HD9 7SE, in Kirklees.
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.