Parkside Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Crook, County Durham, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 98 of its 833 pupils (11.8%) were getting SEN support and 22 (2.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 833 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in County Durham.
11.8% get SEN support
98 of 833 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.6% have an EHC plan
22 of 833 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia32
- Moderate learning difficulty26
- Speech, language and communication21
- Social, emotional and mental health19
- Autism16
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
- 833 (places for 900)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Kelly Armstrong
- Part of
- Advance Learning Partnership
- Free school meals
- 43.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- County Durham
- School reference (URN)
- 137903
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 County Durham 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, September 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in September 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Hall Lane Estate, Willington, Crook, DL15 0QF
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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
- The Grange Learning Centre Independent · Ages 7–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.2 miles
- Norman Cornish Academy Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 3.0 miles
- Bishop Barrington Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 3.8 miles
- Durham Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 5.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Stephen's Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 20.2%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.1 miles
- Willington Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 16%, EHC plans 0.6% 0.3 miles
- Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 24.6%, EHC plans 1.6% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in County Durham SEND schools in County Durham
Questions about Parkside Academy
How many pupils at Parkside Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 98 of the 833 pupils (11.8%) were getting SEN support and 22 (2.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Parkside Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (32 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (26 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (21 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Parkside 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 Parkside Academy?
Through County Durham 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 Parkside Academy?
You can ask for Parkside 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 Parkside 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 Bishop Barrington Academy, about 3.8 miles away.
Where is Parkside Academy?
Hall Lane Estate, Willington, Crook, DL15 0QF, in County Durham.
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.