Keswick School is a mainstream secondary school in Keswick, Cumberland, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 133 of its 1,208 pupils (11%) were getting SEN support and 20 (1.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,208 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Cumberland.
11% get SEN support
133 of 1,208 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
1.7% have an EHC plan
20 of 1,208 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty47
- Social, emotional and mental health38
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia25
- Autism24
- Speech, language and communication10
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
- 1,208 (places for 1,229)
- Headteacher
- Mr Simon Jackson
- Part of
- Keswick School Multi Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 10.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cumberland
- School reference (URN)
- 136902
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 Cumberland 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, April 2024
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in April 2024.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Vicarage Hill, Keswick, CA12 5QB
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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
- Old Windebrowe Independent · Ages 5–18 1.0 mile
- All Saints' CofE School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 9.1 miles
- Cockermouth School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 9.2 miles
- Branthwaite Academy Special school · Ages 4–19 15 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Herbert's CofE (VA) Primary and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 6.8%, EHC plans 3.8% 1.0 mile
- Braithwaite CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 7.5%, EHC plans 7.5% 1.9 miles
- Threlkeld CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 9.8%, EHC plans 0% 3.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Cumberland SEND schools in Cumberland
Questions about Keswick School
How many pupils at Keswick School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 133 of the 1,208 pupils (11%) were getting SEN support and 20 (1.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Keswick School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (47 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (38 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (25 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Keswick 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 Keswick School?
Through Cumberland 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 Keswick School?
You can ask for Keswick 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 Keswick 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 All Saints' CofE School, about 9.1 miles away.
Where is Keswick School?
Vicarage Hill, Keswick, CA12 5QB, in Cumberland.
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.