Ladybridge High School is a mainstream secondary school in Bolton for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 151 of its 1,136 pupils (13.3%) were getting SEN support and 30 (2.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,136 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Bolton.
13.3% get SEN support
151 of 1,136 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.6% have an EHC plan
30 of 1,136 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health54
- Autism33
- Speech, language and communication28
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia27
- Moderate learning difficulty11
- 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
- 1,136 (places for 1,140)
- Headteacher
- Mr Patrick Russell
- Free school meals
- 37.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Bolton
- School reference (URN)
- 134646
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 Bolton 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, November 2022; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (September 2021)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, September 2021).
Contact and getting there
New York, Junction Road, Bolton, BL3 4NG
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
- Rumworth School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.1 miles
- Thomasson Memorial School Special school · Ages 2–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Lever Edge Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 1–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.6 miles
- Claypool Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Ladybridge Community Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 4.7%, EHC plans 5% 0.2 miles
- St Mary's CofE Primary School, Deane Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 21.9%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.2 miles
- St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 10.1%, EHC plans 4.5% 0.3 miles
Questions about Ladybridge High School
How many pupils at Ladybridge High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 151 of the 1,136 pupils (13.3%) were getting SEN support and 30 (2.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Ladybridge 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 (54 pupils), autism (33 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (28 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ladybridge 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 Ladybridge High School?
Through Bolton 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 Ladybridge High School?
You can ask for Ladybridge 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 Ladybridge 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 Lever Edge Primary Academy, about 1.6 miles away.
Where is Ladybridge High School?
New York, Junction Road, Bolton, BL3 4NG, in Bolton.
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.