Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow is a mainstream secondary school in Harlow, Essex, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 183 of its 978 pupils (18.7%) were getting SEN support and 28 (2.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 978 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Essex.
18.7% get SEN support
183 of 978 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.9% have an EHC plan
28 of 978 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 health77
- Moderate learning difficulty33
- Speech, language and communication21
- Autism17
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia10
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
- 978 (places for 1,050)
- Headteacher
- Mr Stephen Drew
- Part of
- The Passmores Co-Operative Learning Community
- Free school meals
- 36.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 137552
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 Essex 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 Requires improvement, May 2024; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (November 2022)
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in May 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, November 2022).
Contact and getting there
Parnall Road, Harlow, CM18 7NQ
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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
- Longwood Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Milwards Primary School and Nursery Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Harlow Fields School and College Special school · Ages 3–19 0.6 miles
- The Greenwell Academy Special school · Ages 7–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow
How many pupils at Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 183 of the 978 pupils (18.7%) were getting SEN support and 28 (2.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (77 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (33 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (21 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow?
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 Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow?
Through Essex 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 Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow?
You can ask for Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow 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 Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow 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 Longwood Primary Academy, about 0.2 miles away.
Where is Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow?
Parnall Road, Harlow, CM18 7NQ, in Essex.
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.