Lift Clacton is a mainstream secondary school in Clacton on Sea, Essex, for children and young people aged 11 to 19. In January 2026, 380 of its 1,466 pupils (25.9%) were getting SEN support and 46 (3.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–19
- 1,466 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Essex.
25.9% get SEN support
380 of 1,466 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.1% have an EHC plan
46 of 1,466 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health211
- Autism103
- Moderate learning difficulty41
- Speech, language and communication27
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia25
- Physical disability9
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 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,466 (places for 1,550)
- Headteacher
- Mr Marc Cologne (Head of Academy)
- Part of
- Lift Schools
- Free school meals
- 57.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 135957
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 Essex 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, June 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Pathfields Road, Clacton on Sea, CO15 3JL
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Learn and Prosper School Independent · Ages 7–14 0.4 miles
- Minerva Independent School Independent · Ages 8–17 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Lift Hamford Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 5.5 miles
- Cherry Tree Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 11 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Lift Clacton
How many pupils at Lift Clacton have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 380 of the 1,466 pupils (25.9%) were getting SEN support and 46 (3.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Lift Clacton?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (211 pupils), autism (103 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (41 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Lift Clacton?
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 Lift Clacton?
Through Essex 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 Lift Clacton?
You can ask for Lift Clacton 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 Lift Clacton 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 Lift Hamford, about 5.5 miles away.
Where is Lift Clacton?
Pathfields Road, Clacton on Sea, CO15 3JL, in Essex.
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.