North Cambridge Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 108 of its 687 pupils (15.7%) were getting SEN support and 43 (6.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 687 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Cambridgeshire.
15.7% get SEN support
108 of 687 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
6.3% have an EHC plan
43 of 687 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 health54
- Moderate learning difficulty45
- Speech, language and communication28
- Autism11
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia9
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
- 687 (places for 750)
- Headteacher
- Miss Jane Driver (Principal)
- Part of
- Meridian Trust
- Free school meals
- 51.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cambridgeshire
- School reference (URN)
- 139401
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 Cambridgeshire 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, February 2015; standards maintained (February 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2015. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, February 2025).
Contact and getting there
Arbury Road, Kings Hedges, Cambridge, CB4 2JF
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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 Grove Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- Castle School, Cambridge Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.4 miles
- St Laurence Catholic Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- The Cavendish School Special school · Ages 7–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Milton Road Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 8.5%, EHC plans 3.1% 0.4 miles
- Arbury Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 23.2%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.4 miles
- Kings Hedges Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 11.8%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Cambridgeshire SEND schools in Cambridgeshire
Questions about North Cambridge Academy
How many pupils at North Cambridge Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 108 of the 687 pupils (15.7%) were getting SEN support and 43 (6.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at North Cambridge Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (54 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (45 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (28 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at North Cambridge 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 North Cambridge Academy?
Through Cambridgeshire 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 North Cambridge Academy?
You can ask for North Cambridge 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 North Cambridge 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 The Grove Primary School, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is North Cambridge Academy?
Arbury Road, Kings Hedges, Cambridge, CB4 2JF, in Cambridgeshire.
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.