West Lakes Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Egremont, Cumberland, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 120 of its 1,017 pupils (11.8%) were getting SEN support and 54 (5.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,017 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Cumberland.
11.8% get SEN support
120 of 1,017 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.3% have an EHC plan
54 of 1,017 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism61
- Social, emotional and mental health40
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia29
- Speech, language and communication16
- Moderate learning difficulty7
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 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,017 (places for 1,150)
- Headteacher
- Mr Stephen Grant (Principal)
- Part of
- Changing Lives Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 28.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cumberland
- School reference (URN)
- 135632
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 Cumberland 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
Special measures. Graded by area, June 2025; school remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next (April 2023)
Ofsted has placed this school in special measures.
Inspected in June 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationInadequate
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementInadequate
- Sixth formRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, April 2023).
Contact and getting there
Main Street, Egremont, CA22 2DQ
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
- St Patrick's Catholic Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.3 miles
- Hensingham Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.9 miles
- Mayfield School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 4.4 miles
- Branthwaite Academy Special school · Ages 4–19 9.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Bridget's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 19.2%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.2 miles
- Bookwell Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 10.3%, EHC plans 3.1% 0.3 miles
- Orgill Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 8.8%, EHC plans 3.5% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Cumberland SEND schools in Cumberland
Questions about West Lakes Academy
How many pupils at West Lakes Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 120 of the 1,017 pupils (11.8%) were getting SEN support and 54 (5.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at West Lakes Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (61 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (40 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (29 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at West Lakes 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 West Lakes Academy?
Through Cumberland 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 West Lakes Academy?
You can ask for West Lakes 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 West Lakes 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 Patrick's Catholic Primary School, about 2.3 miles away.
Where is West Lakes Academy?
Main Street, Egremont, CA22 2DQ, in Cumberland.
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.