The Palmer Catholic Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Ilford, Redbridge, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 97 of its 1,132 pupils (8.6%) were getting SEN support and 25 (2.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,132 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Redbridge.
8.6% get SEN support
97 of 1,132 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.2% have an EHC plan
25 of 1,132 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty34
- Speech, language and communication31
- Social, emotional and mental health20
- Autism13
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia10
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
- 1,132 (places for 1,174)
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Downey
- Part of
- The Good Shepherd Catholic Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 33.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Redbridge
- School reference (URN)
- 137088
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 Redbridge 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
Report card, February 2026: Expected standard in 4 of 7 areas
Inspected in February 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
- Post-16Needs attention
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, January 2022).
Contact and getting there
Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, Ilford, IG3 8EU
Loading the map…
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
- Seven Kings School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.3 miles
- Oak House School Independent · Ages 10–17 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Endeavour House School Independent · Ages 6–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Mayespark Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Aidan's Catholic Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.2%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.1 miles
- Ark Isaac Newton Academy All-through · Ages 4–18 · SEN support 7.8%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.2 miles
- Aldborough Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 8.9%, EHC plans 3.5% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Redbridge SEND schools in Redbridge
Questions about The Palmer Catholic Academy
How many pupils at The Palmer Catholic Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 97 of the 1,132 pupils (8.6%) were getting SEN support and 25 (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 The Palmer Catholic Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (34 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (31 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (20 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Palmer Catholic 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 The Palmer Catholic Academy?
Through Redbridge 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 The Palmer Catholic Academy?
You can ask for The Palmer Catholic 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 The Palmer Catholic 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 Seven Kings School, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is The Palmer Catholic Academy?
Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, Ilford, IG3 8EU, in Redbridge.
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.