The Gateway Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Grays, Thurrock, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 173 of its 1,030 pupils (16.8%) were getting SEN support and 33 (3.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,030 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Thurrock.
16.8% get SEN support
173 of 1,030 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.2% have an EHC plan
33 of 1,030 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 health67
- Moderate learning difficulty67
- Speech, language and communication36
- Autism22
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
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,030 (places for 1,035)
- Headteacher
- Grainne McLaughlin (Head of School)
- Part of
- Gateway Learning Community
- Free school meals
- 41.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Thurrock
- School reference (URN)
- 133114
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 Thurrock 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, March 2019; standards maintained (December 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2019. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, December 2024).
Contact and getting there
Marshfoot Road, Grays, RM16 4LU
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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
- OA - North View Independent · Ages 9–14 0.8 miles
- Treetops Free School Special school · Ages 4–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Lansdowne Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.1 miles
- Thameside Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about The Gateway Academy
How many pupils at The Gateway Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 173 of the 1,030 pupils (16.8%) were getting SEN support and 33 (3.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Gateway Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (67 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (67 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (36 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Gateway Academy?
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 The Gateway Academy?
Through Thurrock 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 The Gateway Academy?
You can ask for The Gateway Academy 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 The Gateway Academy 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 Lansdowne Primary Academy, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is The Gateway Academy?
Marshfoot Road, Grays, RM16 4LU, in Thurrock.
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.