Chadwell Heath Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Romford, Redbridge, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 181 of its 1,229 pupils (14.7%) were getting SEN support and 48 (3.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,229 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Redbridge.
14.7% get SEN support
181 of 1,229 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.9% have an EHC plan
48 of 1,229 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty73
- Speech, language and communication57
- Social, emotional and mental health48
- Autism23
- Physical disability5
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
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,229 (places for 1,250)
- Headteacher
- Mr Richard Poddington
- Part of
- Chadwell Heath Academy
- Free school meals
- 26.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Redbridge
- School reference (URN)
- 136267
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 Redbridge 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
Graded by area, April 2025
Inspected in April 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Christie Gardens, Chadwell Heath, Romford, RM6 4RS
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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
- Newbridge School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.3 miles
- Little Heath School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Becontree Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- The Warren School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Barley Lane Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.4%, EHC plans 3.1% 0.2 miles
- Chadwell Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12%, EHC plans 5% 0.2 miles
- Farnham Green Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.3%, EHC plans 5.1% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Redbridge SEND schools in Redbridge
Questions about Chadwell Heath Academy
How many pupils at Chadwell Heath Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 181 of the 1,229 pupils (14.7%) were getting SEN support and 48 (3.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Chadwell Heath Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (73 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (57 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (48 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Chadwell Heath 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 Chadwell Heath Academy?
Through Redbridge 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 Chadwell Heath Academy?
You can ask for Chadwell Heath 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 Chadwell Heath 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 Becontree Primary School, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is Chadwell Heath Academy?
Christie Gardens, Chadwell Heath, Romford, RM6 4RS, in Redbridge.
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.