Outwood Academy Ripon is a mainstream secondary school in Ripon, North Yorkshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 103 of its 609 pupils (16.9%) were getting SEN support and 21 (3.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 609 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in North Yorkshire.
16.9% get SEN support
103 of 609 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.4% have an EHC plan
21 of 609 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty46
- Social, emotional and mental health21
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia18
- Autism15
- Speech, language and communication15
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
- 609 (places for 750)
- Headteacher
- Ms Rachel Donohue (Academy Principal)
- Part of
- Outwood Grange Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 27.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- North Yorkshire
- School reference (URN)
- 137412
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 North Yorkshire 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, July 2024; school remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next (May 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in July 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, May 2022).
Contact and getting there
Clotherholme Road, Ripon, HG4 2DE
Loading the map…
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
- Cambian Spring Hill Independent · Ages 8–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Dishforth Airfield Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 5.8 miles
- Breckenbrough School Special school · Ages 9–19 · Ofsted: Good 8.9 miles
- Knaresborough St John's Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 9.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Ripon Grammar School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 3.2%, EHC plans 0.3% 0.1 miles
- Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 19.1%, EHC plans 4.2% 0.5 miles
- St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 18.5%, EHC plans 1.3% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in North Yorkshire SEND schools in North Yorkshire
Questions about Outwood Academy Ripon
How many pupils at Outwood Academy Ripon have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 103 of the 609 pupils (16.9%) were getting SEN support and 21 (3.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Outwood Academy Ripon?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (46 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (21 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (18 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Outwood Academy Ripon?
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 Outwood Academy Ripon?
Through North Yorkshire 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 Outwood Academy Ripon?
You can ask for Outwood Academy Ripon 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 Outwood Academy Ripon 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 Dishforth Airfield Community Primary School, about 5.8 miles away.
Where is Outwood Academy Ripon?
Clotherholme Road, Ripon, HG4 2DE, in North Yorkshire.
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.