The Rural Enterprise Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Penkridge, Staffordshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 71 of its 217 pupils (32.7%) were getting SEN support and 16 (7.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 217 pupils
- Ofsted: Inadequate
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Staffordshire.
32.7% get SEN support
71 of 217 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
7.4% have an EHC plan
16 of 217 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 health30
- Autism17
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia14
- Speech, language and communication13
- Moderate learning difficulty9
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
- 217 (places for 300)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Annabel Stoddart (Principal)
- Part of
- Penk Valley Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 28.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Staffordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 138351
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 Staffordshire 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
Special measures. Rated Inadequate, July 2024
Ofsted has placed this school in special measures.
Rated Inadequate at its last graded inspection, in July 2024.
- Quality of educationInadequate
- Behaviour and attitudesInadequate
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementInadequate
- SafeguardingNot effective
Contact and getting there
Rodbaston Drive, Penkridge, ST19 5PH
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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
- Little Kinvaston School Independent · Ages 8–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Robin's Nest School Independent · Ages 8–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Littleton Green Community School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.2 miles
- Cannock Chase High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 4.0 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Princefield First School Primary · Ages 3–9 · SEN support 12.6%, EHC plans 1.2% 1.4 miles
- St Michael's CofE (A) First School Primary · Ages 3–9 · SEN support 13.5%, EHC plans 1.4% 1.5 miles
- Wolgarston High School Secondary · Ages 13–18 · SEN support 10.7%, EHC plans 2.1% 1.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Staffordshire SEND schools in Staffordshire
Questions about The Rural Enterprise Academy
How many pupils at The Rural Enterprise Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 71 of the 217 pupils (32.7%) were getting SEN support and 16 (7.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Rural Enterprise Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (30 pupils), autism (17 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (14 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Rural Enterprise 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 The Rural Enterprise Academy?
Through Staffordshire 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 The Rural Enterprise Academy?
You can ask for The Rural Enterprise 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 The Rural Enterprise 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 Littleton Green Community School, about 3.2 miles away.
Where is The Rural Enterprise Academy?
Rodbaston Drive, Penkridge, ST19 5PH, in Staffordshire.
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.