Dixons Ashton Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 302 of its 1,326 pupils (22.8%) were getting SEN support and 66 (5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,326 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Tameside.
22.8% get SEN support
302 of 1,326 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
5% have an EHC plan
66 of 1,326 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health113
- Moderate learning difficulty90
- Speech, language and communication85
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia20
- Autism11
- Physical disability8
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
- 1,326 (places for 1,350)
- Headteacher
- Mr Matthew Little (Principal)
- Part of
- Dixons Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 52% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Tameside
- School reference (URN)
- 135508
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 Tameside 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, March 2025
Inspected in March 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Broadoak Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 8RF
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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
- Samuel Laycock School Special school · Ages 11–17 0.0 miles
- Rosehill Methodist Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- St James' Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- The Limes School Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Holden Clough Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.5%, EHC plans 3.7% 0.2 miles
- St Christopher's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 6%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.3 miles
- St Damian's RC Science College Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 9.3%, EHC plans 4% 0.4 miles
Questions about Dixons Ashton Academy
How many pupils at Dixons Ashton Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 302 of the 1,326 pupils (22.8%) were getting SEN support and 66 (5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Dixons Ashton Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (113 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (90 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (85 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Dixons Ashton 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 Dixons Ashton Academy?
Through Tameside 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 Dixons Ashton Academy?
You can ask for Dixons Ashton 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 Dixons Ashton 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 Rosehill Methodist Primary Academy, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is Dixons Ashton Academy?
Broadoak Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 8RF, in Tameside.
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.