Barr Beacon School is a mainstream secondary school in Walsall for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 180 of its 1,469 pupils (12.3%) were getting SEN support and 28 (1.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,469 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Walsall.
12.3% get SEN support
180 of 1,469 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1.9% have an EHC plan
28 of 1,469 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health55
- Speech, language and communication28
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia19
- Autism17
- Moderate learning difficulty14
- 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 secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,469 (places for 1,487)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Kate Hibbs (Executive Headteacher)
- Part of
- Matrix Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 23.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Walsall
- School reference (URN)
- 136885
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 Walsall 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, November 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Old Hall Lane, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 0RF
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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
- Meadow View Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Lindens Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- Priestley Smith School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.5 miles
- The Bridge School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Pheasey Park Farm Primary School and Early Years Centre Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.9%, EHC plans 1.8% 0.4 miles
- Sundridge Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 27%, EHC plans 1.4% 0.9 miles
- St Margaret's CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.7%, EHC plans 4.1% 0.9 miles
Questions about Barr Beacon School
How many pupils at Barr Beacon School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 180 of the 1,469 pupils (12.3%) were getting SEN support and 28 (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 Barr Beacon School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (55 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (28 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (19 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Barr Beacon School?
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 Barr Beacon School?
Through Walsall 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 Barr Beacon School?
You can ask for Barr Beacon School 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 Barr Beacon School 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 Meadow View Academy, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Barr Beacon School?
Old Hall Lane, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 0RF, in Walsall.
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.