Hadleigh High School is a mainstream secondary school in Ipswich, Suffolk, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 128 of its 712 pupils (18%) were getting SEN support and 32 (4.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 712 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Suffolk.
18% get SEN support
128 of 712 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
4.5% have an EHC plan
32 of 712 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health39
- Autism31
- Moderate learning difficulty31
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia21
- Speech, language and communication17
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 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 712 (places for 870)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Nicola Shingleton
- Part of
- Penrose Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 23.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Suffolk
- School reference (URN)
- 136918
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 Suffolk 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, October 2015; standards maintained (October 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2015. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, October 2024).
Contact and getting there
Highlands Road, Hadleigh, Ipswich, IP7 5HU
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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
- Acorn Cottage The Lodge Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 3.1 miles
- Bildeston Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 5.0 miles
- The Bridge School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 6.1 miles
- Chantry Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 7.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Hadleigh Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 21.3%, EHC plans 11.5% 0.2 miles
- Hadleigh Community Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.5%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.2 miles
- Beaumont Community Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 25.7%, EHC plans 5.9% 0.7 miles
Questions about Hadleigh High School
How many pupils at Hadleigh High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 128 of the 712 pupils (18%) were getting SEN support and 32 (4.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Hadleigh High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (39 pupils), autism (31 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (31 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Hadleigh High 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 Hadleigh High School?
Through Suffolk 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 Hadleigh High School?
You can ask for Hadleigh High 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 Hadleigh High 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 Bildeston Primary School, about 5.0 miles away.
Where is Hadleigh High School?
Highlands Road, Hadleigh, Ipswich, IP7 5HU, in Suffolk.
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.