St Benedict's Catholic High School is a mainstream secondary school in Whitehaven, Cumberland, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 119 of its 990 pupils (12%) were getting SEN support and 67 (6.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 990 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Cumberland.
12% get SEN support
119 of 990 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
6.8% have an EHC plan
67 of 990 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism82
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia36
- Social, emotional and mental health26
- Moderate learning difficulty22
- Speech, language and communication6
- Severe 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 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 990 (places for 1,194)
- Headteacher
- Mr John-Paul Morrison (Executive Headteacher)
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 31.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cumberland
- School reference (URN)
- 112398
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 Cumberland 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, September 2014; standards maintained (June 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in September 2014. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, June 2025).
Contact and getting there
Red Lonning, Hensingham, Whitehaven, CA28 8UG
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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
- Mayfield School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.0 miles
- Hensingham Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Bransty Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Branthwaite Academy Special school · Ages 4–19 5.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- The Whitehaven Academy Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 17%, EHC plans 4.8% 0.4 miles
- Jericho Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14%, EHC plans 3.9% 0.5 miles
- St Gregory and St Patrick's Catholic Infant School Primary · Ages 3–7 · SEN support 17.5%, EHC plans 3.2% 1.0 mile
All mainstream schools in Cumberland SEND schools in Cumberland
Questions about St Benedict's Catholic High School
How many pupils at St Benedict's Catholic High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 119 of the 990 pupils (12%) were getting SEN support and 67 (6.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Benedict's Catholic High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (82 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (36 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (26 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Benedict's Catholic 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 St Benedict's Catholic High School?
Through Cumberland 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 Benedict's Catholic High School?
You can ask for St Benedict's Catholic 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 St Benedict's Catholic 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 Hensingham Primary School, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is St Benedict's Catholic High School?
Red Lonning, Hensingham, Whitehaven, CA28 8UG, in Cumberland.
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.