Retford Oaks Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Retford, Nottinghamshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 91 of its 1,080 pupils (8.4%) were getting SEN support and 15 (1.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,080 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Nottinghamshire.
8.4% get SEN support
91 of 1,080 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
1.4% have an EHC plan
15 of 1,080 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 health37
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia29
- Autism13
- Speech, language and communication12
- Physical disability10
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 (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,080 (places for 1,295)
- Headteacher
- Mr Luke Dickinson
- Part of
- Diverse Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 33.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Nottinghamshire
- School reference (URN)
- 137117
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 Nottinghamshire 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, June 2017; school remains Good (May 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, May 2022).
Contact and getting there
Babworth Road, Retford, DN22 7NJ
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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
- St Giles School Special school · Ages 3–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.0 miles
- Bright Fields School Independent · Ages 5–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 5.5 miles
- Leverton Church of England Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 5.7 miles
- Prospect Hill Infant and Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–7 · Ofsted: Good 6.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.4%, EHC plans 1.3% 0.2 miles
- Ordsall Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.7%, EHC plans 1.6% 0.6 miles
- Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–7 · SEN support 15.6%, EHC plans 1.1% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Nottinghamshire SEND schools in Nottinghamshire
Questions about Retford Oaks Academy
How many pupils at Retford Oaks Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 91 of the 1,080 pupils (8.4%) were getting SEN support and 15 (1.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Retford Oaks Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (37 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (29 pupils) and autism (13 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Retford Oaks 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 Retford Oaks Academy?
Through Nottinghamshire 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 Retford Oaks Academy?
You can ask for Retford Oaks 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 Retford Oaks 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 Leverton Church of England Academy, about 5.7 miles away.
Where is Retford Oaks Academy?
Babworth Road, Retford, DN22 7NJ, in Nottinghamshire.
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.