Ashton-on-Mersey School is a mainstream secondary school in Sale, Trafford, for children and young people aged 11 to 19. In January 2026, 291 of its 1,609 pupils (18.1%) were getting SEN support and 60 (3.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–19
- 1,609 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Trafford.
18.1% get SEN support
291 of 1,609 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.7% have an EHC plan
60 of 1,609 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 dyslexia128
- Social, emotional and mental health91
- Speech, language and communication45
- Moderate learning difficulty42
- Autism26
- 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
- Ages
- 11 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,609 (places for 1,570)
- Headteacher
- Mr Lee McConaghie
- Part of
- The Dean Trust
- Free school meals
- 15.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Trafford
- School reference (URN)
- 138123
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 Trafford 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, January 2019; school remains Good (April 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2019. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, April 2024).
Contact and getting there
Cecil Avenue, Sale, M33 5BP
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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
- Firs Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 0.6 miles
- Wellfield Infant and Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–7 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.6 miles
- Manor Academy Sale Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Brentwood Community College Independent · Ages 19–23 0.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Ashton-on-Mersey School
How many pupils at Ashton-on-Mersey School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 291 of the 1,609 pupils (18.1%) were getting SEN support and 60 (3.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Ashton-on-Mersey School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (128 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (91 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (45 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ashton-on-Mersey 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 Ashton-on-Mersey School?
Through Trafford 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 Ashton-on-Mersey School?
You can ask for Ashton-on-Mersey 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 Ashton-on-Mersey 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 Firs Primary School, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Ashton-on-Mersey School?
Cecil Avenue, Sale, M33 5BP, in Trafford.
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.