Heath Lane Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Leicester, Leicestershire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 86 of its 644 pupils (13.4%) were getting SEN support and 30 (4.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 644 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Leicestershire.
13.4% get SEN support
86 of 644 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.7% have an EHC plan
30 of 644 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health56
- Moderate learning difficulty31
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia11
- Speech, language and communication7
- Autism5
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
- 644 (places for 800)
- Headteacher
- Mr Mark Trimingham (Principal)
- Part of
- United Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 30.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Leicestershire
- School reference (URN)
- 138327
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 Leicestershire 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, July 2019; standards maintained (February 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in July 2019. 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, February 2025).
Contact and getting there
Heath Lane, Earl Shilton, Leicester, LE9 7PD
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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 Fusion Academy Special school · Ages 7–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Meadow View Farm School Independent · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.5 miles
- All Saints Church of England Primary School, Sapcote Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.4 miles
- Westfield Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–7 3.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Newlands Community Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 22.2%, EHC plans 8.5% 0.2 miles
- Barwell Infant School Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 20%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.8 miles
- Townlands Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 13.8%, EHC plans 2.2% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Leicestershire SEND schools in Leicestershire
Questions about Heath Lane Academy
How many pupils at Heath Lane Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 86 of the 644 pupils (13.4%) were getting SEN support and 30 (4.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Heath Lane Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (56 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (31 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (11 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Heath Lane 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 Heath Lane Academy?
Through Leicestershire 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 Heath Lane Academy?
You can ask for Heath Lane 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 Heath Lane 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 All Saints Church of England Primary School, Sapcote, about 3.4 miles away.
Where is Heath Lane Academy?
Heath Lane, Earl Shilton, Leicester, LE9 7PD, in Leicestershire.
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.