Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Lancaster, Lancashire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 268 of its 1,755 pupils (15.3%) were getting SEN support and 39 (2.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,755 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Lancashire.
15.3% get SEN support
268 of 1,755 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.2% have an EHC plan
39 of 1,755 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty144
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia48
- Social, emotional and mental health36
- Speech, language and communication30
- Autism14
- Hearing impairment8
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
- 1,755 (places for 1,754)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Helen Best and Ms Alexia Barnes (Principal)
- Part of
- The Bay Learning Trust
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 11.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Lancashire
- School reference (URN)
- 136731
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 Lancashire 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, December 2022
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in December 2022.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Ashton Road, Lancaster, LA1 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
- The Loyne Specialist School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.4 miles
- Beaumont College - A Salutem/Ambito College Independent · Ages 18–25 2.0 miles
- Morecambe Bay Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 3.4 miles
- Carnforth Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 6.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Bowerham Primary & Nursery School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 10.2%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.4 miles
- Lancaster Girls' Grammar School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 6.2%, EHC plans 0.4% 0.5 miles
- Lancaster Dallas Road Community Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 8.6%, EHC plans 3% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Lancashire SEND schools in Lancashire
Questions about Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy
How many pupils at Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 268 of the 1,755 pupils (15.3%) were getting SEN support and 39 (2.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (144 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (48 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (36 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ripley St Thomas 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 Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy?
Through Lancashire 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 Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy?
You can ask for Ripley St Thomas 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 Ripley St Thomas 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 Morecambe Bay Community Primary School, about 3.4 miles away.
Where is Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy?
Ashton Road, Lancaster, LA1 4RS, in Lancashire.
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.