Coombeshead Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Newton Abbot, Devon, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 170 of its 870 pupils (19.5%) were getting SEN support and 29 (3.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 870 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Devon.
19.5% get SEN support
170 of 870 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.3% have an EHC plan
29 of 870 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health58
- Speech, language and communication45
- Autism33
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia33
- Moderate learning difficulty18
- Physical disability9
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
- 870 (places for 1,440)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Helen Coulson (Head of School)
- Part of
- Education South West
- Free school meals
- 30.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Devon
- School reference (URN)
- 137176
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 Devon 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, February 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Coombeshead Road, Newton Abbot, TQ12 1PT
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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
- Fieldstone School Independent · Ages 5–16 0.1 miles
- Glendinning Academy Special school · Ages 7–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- Lift Barton Hill Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 4.7 miles
- Teignmouth Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 4.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 28.8%, EHC plans 6.3% 0.0 miles
- Highweek Community Primary and Nursery School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 32.8%, EHC plans 5.2% 0.3 miles
- Newton Abbot College Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 16.5%, EHC plans 5.2% 0.3 miles
Questions about Coombeshead Academy
How many pupils at Coombeshead Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 170 of the 870 pupils (19.5%) were getting SEN support and 29 (3.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Coombeshead Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (58 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (45 pupils) and autism (33 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Coombeshead 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 Coombeshead Academy?
Through Devon 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 Coombeshead Academy?
You can ask for Coombeshead 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 Coombeshead 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 Lift Barton Hill, about 4.7 miles away.
Where is Coombeshead Academy?
Coombeshead Road, Newton Abbot, TQ12 1PT, in Devon.
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.