The Ramsey Academy, Halstead is a mainstream secondary school in Halstead, Essex, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 64 of its 702 pupils (9.1%) were getting SEN support and 24 (3.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 702 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Essex.
9.1% get SEN support
64 of 702 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.4% have an EHC plan
24 of 702 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health35
- Autism15
- Moderate learning difficulty15
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia8
- Speech, language and communication7
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 (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 702 (places for 750)
- Headteacher
- Mr Christian Appleford
- Part of
- Bridge Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 25.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 139248
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 Essex 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
Graded by area, September 2024
Inspected in September 2024. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Colne Road, Halstead, CO9 2HR
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
- The Yellow House School Independent · Ages 13–17 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.9 miles
- Teaseldown School Independent · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 3.3 miles
- Notley High School and Sixth Form Mainstream + base · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 6.9 miles
- St Gregory Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 7.0 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Halstead Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 11.8%, EHC plans 2.8% 0.2 miles
- Richard de Clare Community Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 24.6%, EHC plans 4.3% 0.4 miles
- Holy Trinity Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Halstead Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 15.7%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.7 miles
Questions about The Ramsey Academy, Halstead
How many pupils at The Ramsey Academy, Halstead have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 64 of the 702 pupils (9.1%) were getting SEN support and 24 (3.4%) 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 Ramsey Academy, Halstead?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (35 pupils), autism (15 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (15 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Ramsey Academy, Halstead?
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 Ramsey Academy, Halstead?
Through Essex 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 Ramsey Academy, Halstead?
You can ask for The Ramsey Academy, Halstead 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 Ramsey Academy, Halstead 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 Notley High School and Sixth Form, about 6.9 miles away.
Where is The Ramsey Academy, Halstead?
Colne Road, Halstead, CO9 2HR, in Essex.
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.