Kirkby Stephen Grammar School is a mainstream secondary school in Kirkby Stephen, Westmorland and Furness, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 62 of its 377 pupils (16.4%) were getting SEN support and 16 (4.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 377 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Westmorland and Furness.
16.4% get SEN support
62 of 377 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.2% have an EHC plan
16 of 377 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia30
- Social, emotional and mental health19
- Autism10
- Speech, language and communication6
- Moderate learning difficulty6
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
- 377 (places for 545)
- Headteacher
- Ms Nicola Tweddle
- Part of
- Cumbria Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 20.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Westmorland and Furness
- School reference (URN)
- 137107
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 Westmorland and Furness 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, January 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Christian Head, Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4HA
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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
- Appleby Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 9.2 miles
- Settlebeck School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 12 miles
- Sandgate School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 18 miles
- South Lakes Academy Independent · Ages 11–25 · Ofsted: Good 19 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Kirkby Stephen Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.8%, EHC plans 2.6% 0.3 miles
- Brough Community Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 13.7%, EHC plans 1.4% 3.5 miles
- Warcop CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.9%, EHC plans 7.1% 4.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Westmorland and Furness SEND schools in Westmorland and Furness
Questions about Kirkby Stephen Grammar School
How many pupils at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 62 of the 377 pupils (16.4%) were getting SEN support and 16 (4.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (30 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (19 pupils) and autism (10 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Kirkby Stephen Grammar 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 Kirkby Stephen Grammar School?
Through Westmorland and Furness 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 Kirkby Stephen Grammar School?
You can ask for Kirkby Stephen Grammar 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 Kirkby Stephen Grammar 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 Appleby Primary School, about 9.2 miles away.
Where is Kirkby Stephen Grammar School?
Christian Head, Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4HA, in Westmorland and Furness.
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.