Belfairs Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 166 of its 1,558 pupils (10.7%) were getting SEN support and 35 (2.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,558 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Southend-on-Sea.
10.7% get SEN support
166 of 1,558 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.2% have an EHC plan
35 of 1,558 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 health72
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia53
- Autism24
- Speech, language and communication19
- Moderate learning difficulty13
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
- 1,558 (places for 1,440)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Beverley Williams (Principal)
- Part of
- Legra Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 24.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Southend-on-Sea
- School reference (URN)
- 138174
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 Southend-on-Sea 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 Requires improvement, May 2024; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (May 2023)
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in May 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, May 2023).
Contact and getting there
Highlands Boulevard, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 3TG
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
- Fairways Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Blenheim Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.9 miles
- The St Christopher School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Estuary High School Independent · Ages 13–18 · Ofsted: Inadequate 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- West Leigh Infant School Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 8.9%, EHC plans 1.7% 0.5 miles
- West Leigh Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 6.5%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.5 miles
- Leigh North Street Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 11.4%, EHC plans 2.6% 0.9 miles
All mainstream schools in Southend-on-Sea SEND schools in Southend-on-Sea
Questions about Belfairs Academy
How many pupils at Belfairs Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 166 of the 1,558 pupils (10.7%) were getting SEN support and 35 (2.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Belfairs Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (72 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (53 pupils) and autism (24 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Belfairs 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 Belfairs Academy?
Through Southend-on-Sea 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 Belfairs Academy?
You can ask for Belfairs 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 Belfairs 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 Fairways Primary School, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is Belfairs Academy?
Highlands Boulevard, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 3TG, in Southend-on-Sea.
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.