Westcliff High School for Girls is a mainstream secondary school in Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, for girls aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 74 of its 1,354 pupils (5.5%) were getting SEN support and 6 (0.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,354 pupils
- Girls only
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Southend-on-Sea.
5.5% get SEN support
74 of 1,354 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
0.4% have an EHC plan
6 of 1,354 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism19
- Social, emotional and mental health13
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia6
- 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
- Girls only
- Pupils
- 1,354 (places for 1,224)
- Admissions
- Selective (a grammar school)
- Headteacher
- Miss Emma Matthews
- Part of
- South East Essex Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 8.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Southend-on-Sea
- School reference (URN)
- 136490
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 Southend-on-Sea 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 Outstanding, February 2024
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in February 2024.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 0BS
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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
- Blenheim Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.4 miles
- Estuary High School Independent · Ages 13–18 · Ofsted: Inadequate 0.4 miles
- The St Christopher School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Chase High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Westcliff High School for Boys Academy Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 2.8%, EHC plans 0.2% 0.1 miles
- St Thomas More High School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 8.4%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.2 miles
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 13.6%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.2 miles
All mainstream schools in Southend-on-Sea SEND schools in Southend-on-Sea
Questions about Westcliff High School for Girls
How many pupils at Westcliff High School for Girls have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 74 of the 1,354 pupils (5.5%) were getting SEN support and 6 (0.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Westcliff High School for Girls?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (19 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (13 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Westcliff High School for Girls?
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 Westcliff High School for Girls?
Through Southend-on-Sea 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 Westcliff High School for Girls?
You can ask for Westcliff High School for Girls 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 Westcliff High School for Girls 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 Blenheim Primary School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Westcliff High School for Girls?
Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 0BS, in Southend-on-Sea.
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.