Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School is a mainstream secondary school in Colne, Lancashire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 109 of its 812 pupils (13.4%) were getting SEN support and 29 (3.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 812 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Lancashire.
13.4% get SEN support
109 of 812 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.6% have an EHC plan
29 of 812 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health27
- Autism26
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia21
- Speech, language and communication19
- Moderate learning difficulty18
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 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 812 (places for 900)
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Dugdale
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 31.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Lancashire
- School reference (URN)
- 119785
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 Lancashire 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
Report card, May 2026: Expected standard in 5 of 6 areas
Inspected in May 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Gibfield Road, Colne, BB8 8JT
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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
- Pendle View Primary School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.0 miles
- Pendle Community High School & College Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.2 miles
- Barrowford School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.1 miles
- Barden Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Colne Primet Academy Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 19%, EHC plans 3.9% 0.2 miles
- Pendle Vale College Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 11.6%, EHC plans 4.2% 0.2 miles
- Colne Primet Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 19.5%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.2 miles
All mainstream schools in Lancashire SEND schools in Lancashire
Questions about Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School
How many pupils at Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 109 of the 812 pupils (13.4%) were getting SEN support and 29 (3.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic 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 (27 pupils), autism (26 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (21 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman 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 Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School?
Through Lancashire 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 Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School?
You can ask for Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman 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 Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman 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 Barrowford School, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School?
Gibfield Road, Colne, BB8 8JT, in Lancashire.
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.