Thirsk School & Sixth Form College is a mainstream secondary school in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 185 of its 1,029 pupils (18%) were getting SEN support and 42 (4.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,029 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in North Yorkshire.
18% get SEN support
185 of 1,029 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
4.1% have an EHC plan
42 of 1,029 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia50
- Social, emotional and mental health47
- Autism42
- Speech, language and communication36
- Moderate learning difficulty25
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
- 1,029 (places for 1,255)
- Headteacher
- Miss Emma Lambden
- Free school meals
- 22.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- North Yorkshire
- School reference (URN)
- 121666
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 North Yorkshire 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, March 2026: Expected standard in every area
Inspected in March 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 wellbeingExpected standard
- Post-16Expected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, February 2022).
Contact and getting there
Topcliffe Road, Sowerby, Thirsk, YO7 1RZ
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
- Breckenbrough School Special school · Ages 9–19 · Ofsted: Good 2.9 miles
- Dishforth Airfield Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 6.5 miles
- Alverton Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 8.9 miles
- The Dales School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 9.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Sowerby Primary Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 21.5%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.1 miles
- All Saints Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 11.7%, EHC plans 9.6% 0.3 miles
- Keeble Gateway Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.3%, EHC plans 6.4% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in North Yorkshire SEND schools in North Yorkshire
Questions about Thirsk School & Sixth Form College
How many pupils at Thirsk School & Sixth Form College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 185 of the 1,029 pupils (18%) were getting SEN support and 42 (4.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Thirsk School & Sixth Form College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (50 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (47 pupils) and autism (42 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Thirsk School & Sixth Form College?
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 Thirsk School & Sixth Form College?
Through North Yorkshire 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 Thirsk School & Sixth Form College?
You can ask for Thirsk School & Sixth Form College 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 Thirsk School & Sixth Form College 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 Dishforth Airfield Community Primary School, about 6.5 miles away.
Where is Thirsk School & Sixth Form College?
Topcliffe Road, Sowerby, Thirsk, YO7 1RZ, in North Yorkshire.
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.