Wapping High School is a mainstream secondary school in Tower Hamlets, London, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 43 of its 248 pupils (17.3%) were getting SEN support and 15 (6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 248 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Tower Hamlets.
17.3% get SEN support
43 of 248 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
6% have an EHC plan
15 of 248 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication18
- Social, emotional and mental health15
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia9
- Autism7
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
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 248 (places for 420)
- Headteacher
- Mr Tom Raw
- Part of
- The Wapping and Shadwell Secondary Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 38.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Tower Hamlets
- School reference (URN)
- 138202
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 Tower Hamlets 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, November 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
153 Commercial Road, London, E1 2DA
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
- Royal Mencap Society Independent · Ages 16–99 0.5 miles
- Hague Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Hermitage Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.7 miles
- Brick Lane School Independent · Ages 5–18 0.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Mulberry School for Girls Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 7%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.0 miles
- London Enterprise Academy Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 13.6%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.1 miles
- Kobi Nazrul Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15%, EHC plans 3.1% 0.2 miles
All mainstream schools in Tower Hamlets SEND schools in Tower Hamlets
Questions about Wapping High School
How many pupils at Wapping High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 43 of the 248 pupils (17.3%) were getting SEN support and 15 (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 Wapping High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (18 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (15 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (9 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Wapping High 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 Wapping High School?
Through Tower Hamlets 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 Wapping High School?
You can ask for Wapping High 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 Wapping High 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 Hague Primary School, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is Wapping High School?
153 Commercial Road, London, E1 2DA, in Tower Hamlets.
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.