Warden Park Secondary Academy is a mainstream secondary school with an SEN unit and resourced provision in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. Its specialist base has 51 places for specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia).
- Ages 11–16
- 1,541 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
School details
- Type
- Mainstream school with an SEN unit and resourced provision
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Specialist base
- An SEN unit and resourced provision, 51 places, 51 pupils
- Pupils
- 1,541
- Headteacher
- Mr Dan Wynne Willson (Headteacher)
- Part of
- Sussex Learning Trust
- Council
- West Sussex
- School reference (URN)
- 137416
Needs its base supports
1 need: dyslexia and SpLD
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Cognition and learning
- Specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) Other schools for this in West Sussex (4)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places in an SEN unit or resourced provision are usually for children with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask about the base
See the school and its specialist base, and ask how children split their time between the base and mainstream classes.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often West Sussex council) that you want this school and its base, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Places in the base itself are agreed between the council and the school, so ask how they decide.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Report card, June 2026: Strong standard in 4 of 6 areas
Inspected in June 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, February 2022).
Contact and getting there
Broad Street, Cuckfield, Haywards Heath, RH17 5DP
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Chalkhill Education Centre, Chalkhill Hospital Alternative provision · Ages 5–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.9 miles
- West Sussex Alternative Provision College Alternative provision · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Good 2.3 miles
- Farney Close School Independent · Ages 9–18 · Ofsted: Good 2.8 miles
All SEND schools in West Sussex
By need in West Sussex: Autism (21) · Speech and language (19) · Moderate learning (9) · Physical (9) · Severe learning (8) · Hearing (8) · SEMH (7) · Dyslexia and SpLD (5) · PMLD (4) · Vision (3) · Multi-sensory (2)
Questions about Warden Park Secondary Academy
How do I get a place in Warden Park Secondary Academy’s specialist base?
Places in an SEN unit or resourced provision usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult the school about its base. If the school is named in the plan it must admit your child; places in the base itself are agreed between the council and the school.
What needs does Warden Park Secondary Academy support?
Specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia). Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does Warden Park Secondary Academy take?
Aged 11 to 16, boys and girls.
What is Warden Park Secondary Academy’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2026 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is Warden Park Secondary Academy?
Broad Street, Cuckfield, Haywards Heath, RH17 5DP, in West Sussex.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, 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.