Helsby High School is a mainstream secondary school in Frodsham, Cheshire West and Chester, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 205 of its 1,211 pupils (16.9%) were getting SEN support and 25 (2.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,211 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Cheshire West and Chester.
16.9% get SEN support
205 of 1,211 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.1% have an EHC plan
25 of 1,211 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 health64
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia57
- Autism27
- Visual impairment13
- Physical disability11
- Speech, language and communication10
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 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,211 (places for 1,371)
- Headteacher
- Mr Martin Hill
- Free school meals
- 16.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cheshire West and Chester
- School reference (URN)
- 111440
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 Cheshire West and Chester 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 Good, February 2014; school remains Good (July 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2014. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, July 2023).
Contact and getting there
Chester Road, Helsby, Frodsham, WA6 0HY
Loading the map…
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
- Frodsham Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 2.0 miles
- Fern House School and College Independent · Ages 7–19 2.2 miles
- Thrive Education and Wellbeing Independent · Ages 4–16 2.9 miles
- Beechwood Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Helsby Hillside Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 9.9%, EHC plans 0.5% 0.3 miles
- Alvanley and Manley Village School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 8%, EHC plans 4% 1.4 miles
- Frodsham CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 9.6%, EHC plans 0.5% 1.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Cheshire West and Chester SEND schools in Cheshire West and Chester
Questions about Helsby High School
How many pupils at Helsby High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 205 of the 1,211 pupils (16.9%) were getting SEN support and 25 (2.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Helsby 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 (64 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (57 pupils) and autism (27 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Helsby 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 Helsby High School?
Through Cheshire West and Chester 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 Helsby High School?
You can ask for Helsby 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 Helsby 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 Frodsham Primary Academy, about 2.0 miles away.
Where is Helsby High School?
Chester Road, Helsby, Frodsham, WA6 0HY, in Cheshire West and Chester.
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.