St Martin's Academy Chester is a mainstream primary school in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 36 of its 177 pupils (20.3%) were getting SEN support and 10 (5.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 177 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Cheshire West and Chester.
20.3% get SEN support
36 of 177 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
5.6% have an EHC plan
10 of 177 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication9
- Social, emotional and mental health6
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 primary school
- Run as
- Free school
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 177 (places for 182)
- Headteacher
- Ms Wenda Smith
- Part of
- North West Academies Trust Limited
- Free school meals
- 5.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cheshire West and Chester
- School reference (URN)
- 139377
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 Cheshire West and Chester 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, December 2024
Inspected in December 2024. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
91 Hoole Road, Chester, CH2 3NG
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
- Maple Grove School Independent · Ages 5–18 0.2 miles
- Dorin Park School & Specialist SEN College Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Upton Westlea Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 1.1 miles
- Acresfield Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Hoole Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14.7%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.3 miles
- Newton Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 16.3%, EHC plans 1.1% 0.4 miles
- St Werburgh's and St Columba's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 13%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Cheshire West and Chester SEND schools in Cheshire West and Chester
Questions about St Martin's Academy Chester
How many pupils at St Martin's Academy Chester have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 36 of the 177 pupils (20.3%) were getting SEN support and 10 (5.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at St Martin's Academy Chester?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (9 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Martin's Academy Chester?
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 Martin's Academy Chester?
Through Cheshire West and Chester 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 Martin's Academy Chester?
You can ask for St Martin's Academy Chester 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 Martin's Academy Chester 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 Upton Westlea Primary School, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is St Martin's Academy Chester?
91 Hoole Road, Chester, CH2 3NG, in Cheshire West and Chester.
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.