Upper Wharfedale School is a mainstream secondary school in Skipton, North Yorkshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 47 of its 351 pupils (13.4%) were getting SEN support and 29 (8.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 351 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in North Yorkshire.
13.4% get SEN support
47 of 351 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
8.3% have an EHC plan
29 of 351 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 dyslexia13
- Speech, language and communication11
- Social, emotional and mental health7
- Autism6
- Physical disability6
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
- 351 (places for 350)
- Headteacher
- Mr Ian Chapman
- Free school meals
- 15.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- North Yorkshire
- School reference (URN)
- 121690
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
Rated Outstanding, June 2019; standards maintained (December 2024)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in June 2019. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, December 2024).
Contact and getting there
Wharfeside Avenue, Threshfield, Skipton, BD23 5BS
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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
- The Skipton Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 7.7 miles
- Brooklands School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 8.3 miles
- Forest Moor School Special school · Ages 9–16 · Ofsted: Good 13 miles
- Ilkley Grammar School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 13 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Threshfield Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 13%, EHC plans 0% 0.5 miles
- Grassington Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.1%, EHC plans 1.8% 0.7 miles
- Cracoe and Rylstone Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 6.8%, EHC plans 2.3% 3.0 miles
All mainstream schools in North Yorkshire SEND schools in North Yorkshire
Questions about Upper Wharfedale School
How many pupils at Upper Wharfedale School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 47 of the 351 pupils (13.4%) were getting SEN support and 29 (8.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Upper Wharfedale School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (13 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (11 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (7 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Upper Wharfedale 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 Upper Wharfedale School?
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 Upper Wharfedale School?
You can ask for Upper Wharfedale 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 Upper Wharfedale 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 Skipton Academy, about 7.7 miles away.
Where is Upper Wharfedale School?
Wharfeside Avenue, Threshfield, Skipton, BD23 5BS, 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.