St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 150 of its 1,400 pupils (10.7%) were getting SEN support and 35 (2.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,400 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Derbyshire.
10.7% get SEN support
150 of 1,400 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.5% have an EHC plan
35 of 1,400 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 health68
- Autism35
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia23
- Speech, language and communication13
- Physical disability13
- Visual impairment7
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
- 1,400 (places for 1,260)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Maria Dengate
- Part of
- St Mary's Catholic High School Academy Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 18.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Derbyshire
- School reference (URN)
- 138470
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 Derbyshire 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 Outstanding, June 2024
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in June 2024.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Newbold Road, Upper Newbold, Chesterfield, S41 8AG
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
- Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 0.4 miles
- Outwood Academy Newbold Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Ashgate Croft School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.9 miles
- Bluebank School Independent · Ages 11–16 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Newbold CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 11.9%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.5 miles
- Highfield Hall Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.4%, EHC plans 3.5% 0.6 miles
- Holme Hall Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 14.5%, EHC plans 8.1% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Derbyshire SEND schools in Derbyshire
Questions about St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
How many pupils at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 150 of the 1,400 pupils (10.7%) were getting SEN support and 35 (2.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (68 pupils), autism (35 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (23 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary 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 St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Through Derbyshire 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 St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
You can ask for St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary 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 St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary 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 Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Newbold Road, Upper Newbold, Chesterfield, S41 8AG, in Derbyshire.
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.