Ormiston Forge Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Cradley Heath, Sandwell, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 191 of its 1,643 pupils (11.6%) were getting SEN support and 54 (3.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,643 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Sandwell.
11.6% get SEN support
191 of 1,643 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.3% have an EHC plan
54 of 1,643 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 health89
- Moderate learning difficulty58
- Speech, language and communication28
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia22
- Autism20
- Physical disability7
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 (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,643 (places for 1,950)
- Headteacher
- Dr Lisa Mason (Principal)
- Part of
- Ormiston Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 43.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Sandwell
- School reference (URN)
- 137673
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 Sandwell 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, March 2016; standards maintained (April 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2016. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, April 2025).
Contact and getting there
Wrights Lane, Cradley Heath, B64 6QU
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
- St Michael's Church of England High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- The Westminster School Special school · Ages 7–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Coombswood Special School Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 1.0 mile
- Netherton Park Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–5 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Ormiston Forge Academy
How many pupils at Ormiston Forge Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 191 of the 1,643 pupils (11.6%) were getting SEN support and 54 (3.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Ormiston Forge Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (89 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (58 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (28 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ormiston Forge 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 Ormiston Forge Academy?
Through Sandwell 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 Ormiston Forge Academy?
You can ask for Ormiston Forge 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 Ormiston Forge 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 St Michael's Church of England High School, about 0.8 miles away.
Where is Ormiston Forge Academy?
Wrights Lane, Cradley Heath, B64 6QU, in Sandwell.
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.