Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre is a mainstream secondary school in Birmingham for girls aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 78 of its 627 pupils (12.4%) were getting SEN support and 5 (0.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 627 pupils
- Girls only
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Birmingham.
12.4% get SEN support
78 of 627 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
0.8% have an EHC plan
5 of 627 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism23
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia18
- Speech, language and communication17
- Social, emotional and mental health15
- Physical disability5
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
- Girls only
- Pupils
- 627 (places for 720)
- Headteacher
- Mr Samuel B Abbotts
- Part of
- Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre
- Free school meals
- 53.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Birmingham
- School reference (URN)
- 137346
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 Birmingham 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, September 2013; school remains Good (September 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in September 2013. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, September 2022).
Contact and getting there
Stonehouse Lane, Birmingham, B32 3AE
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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
- Welsh House Farm Community School and Special Needs Resources Base Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- World's End Junior School Mainstream + base · Ages 7–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Baskerville School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Queen Alexandra College Independent · Ages 16–25 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Nonsuch Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 31.1%, EHC plans 4.2% 0.4 miles
- Paganel Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.9%, EHC plans 2.7% 0.5 miles
- Jervoise School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 24.2%, EHC plans 2% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Birmingham SEND schools in Birmingham
Questions about Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre
How many pupils at Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 78 of the 627 pupils (12.4%) were getting SEN support and 5 (0.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (23 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (18 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (17 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre?
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 Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre?
Through Birmingham 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 Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre?
You can ask for Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre 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 Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre 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 Welsh House Farm Community School and Special Needs Resources Base, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre?
Stonehouse Lane, Birmingham, B32 3AE, in Birmingham.
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.