Thomas Deacon Academy is an all-through mainstream school in Peterborough for children and young people aged 7 to 19. In January 2026, 220 of its 2,256 pupils (9.8%) were getting SEN support and 48 (2.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 7–19
- 2,256 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Peterborough.
9.8% get SEN support
220 of 2,256 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.1% have an EHC plan
48 of 2,256 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia73
- Speech, language and communication54
- Social, emotional and mental health45
- Moderate learning difficulty43
- Autism34
- Hearing impairment11
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 all-through school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 7 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 2,256 (places for 2,560)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Emily Gaunt (Principal)
- Part of
- Thomas Deacon Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 35.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Peterborough
- School reference (URN)
- 135263
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 Peterborough 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
Graded by area, November 2024
Inspected in November 2024. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Queen's Gardens, Peterborough, PE1 2UW
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
- Medeshamstede Academy Special school · Ages 4–16 0.6 miles
- St John Fisher Catholic High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- NeneGate Special school · Ages 8–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.7 miles
- Jack Hunt Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 2.0 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Greater Peterborough UTC Secondary · Ages 11–19 · SEN support 11.9%, EHC plans 4.5% 0.2 miles
- Queen's Drive Infant School Primary · Ages 5–7 · SEN support 12%, EHC plans 7.2% 0.3 miles
- All Saints' CofE (Aided) Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 15.1%, EHC plans 5.3% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Peterborough SEND schools in Peterborough
Questions about Thomas Deacon Academy
How many pupils at Thomas Deacon Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 220 of the 2,256 pupils (9.8%) were getting SEN support and 48 (2.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Thomas Deacon Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (73 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (54 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (45 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Thomas Deacon 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 Thomas Deacon Academy?
Through Peterborough 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 Thomas Deacon Academy?
You can ask for Thomas Deacon 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 Thomas Deacon 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 St John Fisher Catholic High School, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Thomas Deacon Academy?
Queen's Gardens, Peterborough, PE1 2UW, in Peterborough.
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.