Leeds West Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Leeds for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 286 of its 1,432 pupils (20%) were getting SEN support and 21 (1.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,432 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Leeds.
20% get SEN support
286 of 1,432 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
1.5% have an EHC plan
21 of 1,432 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty93
- Social, emotional and mental health71
- Speech, language and communication48
- Autism45
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia33
- Hearing impairment8
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
- 1,432 (places for 1,500)
- Headteacher
- Mr Sam Pocock (Principal)
- Part of
- White Rose Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 42.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Leeds
- School reference (URN)
- 135935
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 Leeds 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, May 2019; standards maintained (October 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2019. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, October 2024).
Contact and getting there
Intake Lane, Leeds, LS13 1DQ
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
- West Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Bramley Park Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.5 miles
- Helm Academy Pudsey Independent · Ages 11–16 0.8 miles
- St Margaret's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Leeds West Academy
How many pupils at Leeds West Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 286 of the 1,432 pupils (20%) were getting SEN support and 21 (1.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Leeds West Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (93 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (71 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (48 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Leeds West 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 Leeds West Academy?
Through Leeds 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 Leeds West Academy?
You can ask for Leeds West 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 Leeds West 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 Bramley Park Academy, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Leeds West Academy?
Intake Lane, Leeds, LS13 1DQ, in Leeds.
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.