Heanor Gate Spencer Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Heanor, Derbyshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 43 of its 1,493 pupils (2.9%) were getting SEN support and 61 (4.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,493 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Derbyshire.
2.9% get SEN support
43 of 1,493 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
4.1% have an EHC plan
61 of 1,493 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia28
- Autism26
- Social, emotional and mental health18
- Moderate learning difficulty10
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
- 1,493 (places for 1,357)
- Headteacher
- Mr Matt Jones (Principal)
- Part of
- The Spencer Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 33.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Derbyshire
- School reference (URN)
- 137606
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 Derbyshire 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 Outstanding, June 2023; school remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (May 2022)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in June 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, May 2022).
Contact and getting there
Kirkley Drive, Heanor, DE75 7RA
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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
- Jasmine House School Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Langley Mill Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 7–11 1.4 miles
- Aldercar High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.6 miles
- Bennerley Fields School Special school · Ages 2–16 · Ofsted: Good 3.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Corfield CofE Infant School Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 25.9%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.4 miles
- Howitt Primary Community School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 19.1%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.5 miles
- Coppice Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 43.4%, EHC plans 7.7% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Derbyshire SEND schools in Derbyshire
Questions about Heanor Gate Spencer Academy
How many pupils at Heanor Gate Spencer Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 43 of the 1,493 pupils (2.9%) were getting SEN support and 61 (4.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Heanor Gate Spencer Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (28 pupils), autism (26 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (18 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Heanor Gate Spencer Academy?
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 Heanor Gate Spencer Academy?
Through Derbyshire 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 Heanor Gate Spencer Academy?
You can ask for Heanor Gate Spencer Academy 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 Heanor Gate Spencer Academy 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 Langley Mill Academy, about 1.4 miles away.
Where is Heanor Gate Spencer Academy?
Kirkley Drive, Heanor, DE75 7RA, in Derbyshire.
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.