The Winsford Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Winsford, Cheshire West and Chester, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 166 of its 945 pupils (17.6%) were getting SEN support and 58 (6.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 945 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Cheshire West and Chester.
17.6% get SEN support
166 of 945 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
6.1% have an EHC plan
58 of 945 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 health91
- Physical disability6
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
- 945 (places for 1,312)
- Headteacher
- Ms Emma-Jane McLaren
- Part of
- Halliard Trust
- Free school meals
- 43% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cheshire West and Chester
- School reference (URN)
- 136184
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 Cheshire West and Chester 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
Serious weaknesses. Graded by area, July 2025
Ofsted has placed this school in serious weaknesses.
Inspected in July 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationInadequate
- Behaviour and attitudesInadequate
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Grange Lane, Winsford, CW7 2BT
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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
- Grange Community Nursery and Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.1 miles
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Oaklands School Special school · Ages 11–17 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.8 miles
- Hebden Green Community School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Over St John's CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 10.4%, EHC plans 6.7% 0.3 miles
- Winsford High Street Community Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.5%, EHC plans 6.5% 0.4 miles
- Over Hall Community School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 19.6%, EHC plans 7% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Cheshire West and Chester SEND schools in Cheshire West and Chester
Questions about The Winsford Academy
How many pupils at The Winsford Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 166 of the 945 pupils (17.6%) were getting SEN support and 58 (6.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Winsford Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (91 pupils) and physical disabilities (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Winsford 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 The Winsford Academy?
Through Cheshire West and Chester 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 The Winsford Academy?
You can ask for The Winsford 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 The Winsford 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 Grange Community Nursery and Primary School, about 0.1 miles away.
Where is The Winsford Academy?
Grange Lane, Winsford, CW7 2BT, in Cheshire West and Chester.
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.