Highams Park School is a mainstream secondary school in Waltham Forest, London, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 159 of its 1,592 pupils (10%) were getting SEN support and 45 (2.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,592 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Waltham Forest.
10% get SEN support
159 of 1,592 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.8% have an EHC plan
45 of 1,592 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health66
- Moderate learning difficulty47
- Autism39
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia38
- Speech, language and communication7
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
- 1,592 (places for 1,700)
- Headteacher
- Nigel Armsby (Principal)
- Part of
- Highams Park Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 24.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Waltham Forest
- School reference (URN)
- 137558
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 Waltham Forest 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, May 2024; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (March 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, March 2023).
Contact and getting there
34 Handsworth Avenue, Highams Park, London, E4 9PJ
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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.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Joseph Clarke School Special school · Ages 2–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Thorpe Hall Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Whitefield School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Frederick Bremer School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
Other mainstream schools
- Handsworth Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 17%, EHC plans 8.4% 0.0 miles
- Oakhill Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 17.9%, EHC plans 2.9% 0.3 miles
- Selwyn Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 9.6%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Waltham Forest SEND schools in Waltham Forest
Questions about Highams Park School
How many pupils at Highams Park School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 159 of the 1,592 pupils (10%) were getting SEN support and 45 (2.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Highams Park School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (66 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (47 pupils) and autism (39 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Highams Park 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 Highams Park School?
Through Waltham Forest 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 Highams Park School?
You can ask for Highams Park 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 Highams Park 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 Thorpe Hall Primary School, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is Highams Park School?
34 Handsworth Avenue, Highams Park, London, E4 9PJ, in Waltham Forest.
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.