John Ruskin School is a mainstream secondary school in Coniston, Westmorland and Furness, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 102 of its 247 pupils (41.3%) were getting SEN support and 30 (12.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 247 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Westmorland and Furness.
41.3% get SEN support
102 of 247 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
12.1% have an EHC plan
30 of 247 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia75
- Autism23
- Social, emotional and mental health11
- Speech, language and communication6
- Moderate learning difficulty6
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
- 247 (places for 230)
- Headteacher
- Mr Peter Blackburn
- Free school meals
- 11.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Westmorland and Furness
- School reference (URN)
- 112384
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 Westmorland and Furness 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, October 2019; improved significantly (March 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2019.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Improved significantly (ungraded inspection, March 2025).
Contact and getting there
Lake Road, Coniston, LA21 8EW
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
- The Lakes School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 6.4 miles
- Cairn Education CIC Independent · Ages 11–25 · Ofsted report card (2026) 10 miles
- Oversands School Independent · Ages 5–19 · Ofsted: Good 11 miles
- St James' Catholic Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 13 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Coniston CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 23.9%, EHC plans 7.5% 0.3 miles
- Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 26.7%, EHC plans 6.7% 3.1 miles
- Langdale CofE School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 19.4%, EHC plans 3.2% 5.1 miles
All mainstream schools in Westmorland and Furness SEND schools in Westmorland and Furness
Questions about John Ruskin School
How many pupils at John Ruskin School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 102 of the 247 pupils (41.3%) were getting SEN support and 30 (12.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at John Ruskin School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (75 pupils), autism (23 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (11 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at John Ruskin 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 John Ruskin School?
Through Westmorland and Furness 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 John Ruskin School?
You can ask for John Ruskin 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 John Ruskin 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 The Lakes School, about 6.4 miles away.
Where is John Ruskin School?
Lake Road, Coniston, LA21 8EW, in Westmorland and Furness.
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.