The John Wallis Church of England Academy is an all-through mainstream school in Ashford, Kent, for children and young people aged 0 to 19. In January 2026, 304 of its 1,650 pupils (18.4%) were getting SEN support and 31 (1.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 0–19
- 1,650 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Kent.
18.4% get SEN support
304 of 1,650 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
1.9% have an EHC plan
31 of 1,650 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication153
- Social, emotional and mental health106
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia65
- 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 all-through school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 0 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,650 (places for 1,720)
- Headteacher
- Mr Damian McBeath (Principal)
- Part of
- The John Wallis Church of England Academy, Ashford
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 39.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Kent
- School reference (URN)
- 136197
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 Kent 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, January 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Millbank Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, TN23 3HG
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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
- Kings Park School Independent · Ages 7–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.6 miles
- The John Wesley Church of England Methodist Voluntary Aided Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Ashford Oaks Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- The Wyvern School (Buxford) Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Beaver Green Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 23%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.6 miles
- Kingsnorth Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 19.3%, EHC plans 3.1% 0.7 miles
- St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 15.4%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.8 miles
Questions about The John Wallis Church of England Academy
How many pupils at The John Wallis Church of England Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 304 of the 1,650 pupils (18.4%) were getting SEN support and 31 (1.9%) 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 John Wallis Church of England Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (153 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (106 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (65 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The John Wallis Church of England 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 John Wallis Church of England Academy?
Through Kent 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 John Wallis Church of England Academy?
You can ask for The John Wallis Church of England 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 John Wallis Church of England 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 The John Wesley Church of England Methodist Voluntary Aided Primary School, about 0.8 miles away.
Where is The John Wallis Church of England Academy?
Millbank Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, TN23 3HG, in Kent.
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.