SEN2gether

Woodbrook Vale School is a mainstream secondary school in Loughborough, Leicestershire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 108 of its 839 pupils (12.9%) were getting SEN support and 35 (4.2%) had an EHC plan.

  • Ages 11–16
  • 839 pupils
  • Ofsted report card (2026)

Special educational needs here

From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Leicestershire.

12.9% get SEN support

108 of 839 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.

  • This school12.9%
  • England14.1%
  • Leicestershire13.7%

About the same as the England average.

4.2% have an EHC plan

35 of 839 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.

  • This school4.2%
  • England3.5%
  • Leicestershire4%

About the same as the England average.

Most common needs

  • Moderate learning difficulty54
  • Social, emotional and mental health47
  • Speech, language and communication29
  • Physical disability8

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 16
Boys and girls
Boys and girls
Pupils
839 (places for 830)
Headteacher
Mrs Rachael Fraser
Part of
Woodbrook Vale School
Free school meals
18.5% of pupils eligible
Council
Leicestershire
School reference (URN)
137401

How SEN support works

4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. An EHC needs assessment

    If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Leicestershire 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.

  4. 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, March 2026: Expected standard in 5 of 6 areas

Inspected in March 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 teachingExpected standard
  • AchievementExpected standard
  • Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
  • Leadership and governanceExpected standard
  • SafeguardingMet

Contact and getting there

Grasmere Road, Loughborough, LE11 2ST

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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive

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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.

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Nearby

Specialist schools and SEN units

Other mainstream schools

All mainstream schools in Leicestershire SEND schools in Leicestershire

Questions about Woodbrook Vale School

How many pupils at Woodbrook Vale School have special educational needs?

In the January 2026 school census, 108 of the 839 pupils (12.9%) were getting SEN support and 35 (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 Woodbrook Vale School?

Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (54 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (47 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (29 pupils).

Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Woodbrook Vale 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 Woodbrook Vale School?

Through Leicestershire 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 Woodbrook Vale School?

You can ask for Woodbrook Vale 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 Woodbrook Vale 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 Lift Beacon, about 1.0 mile away.

Where is Woodbrook Vale School?

Grasmere Road, Loughborough, LE11 2ST, in Leicestershire.

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.

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