Washwood Heath Academy is an all-through mainstream school in Birmingham for children and young people aged 4 to 18. In January 2026, 301 of its 1,668 pupils (18%) were getting SEN support and 13 (0.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–18
- 1,668 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Birmingham.
18% get SEN support
301 of 1,668 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
0.8% have an EHC plan
13 of 1,668 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty107
- Speech, language and communication75
- Social, emotional and mental health63
- Autism26
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia10
- Hearing impairment10
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 all-through school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 4 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,668 (places for 1,476)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Lynn Petrie (Head of Academy)
- Part of
- Washwood Heath Multi Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 57.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Birmingham
- School reference (URN)
- 139888
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 Birmingham 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, March 2020; standards maintained (May 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2020.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, May 2025).
Contact and getting there
Burney Lane, Stechford, Birmingham, B8 2AS
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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
- Saltley Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Beaufort School Special school · Ages 2–11 0.6 miles
- Ward End Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Braidwood School for the Deaf Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Thornton Primary School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 12.5%, EHC plans 0.6% 0.3 miles
- St Cuthbert's RC Junior and Infant (NC) School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 26.5%, EHC plans 3% 0.3 miles
- Sladefield Infant School Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 13.9%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Birmingham SEND schools in Birmingham
Questions about Washwood Heath Academy
How many pupils at Washwood Heath Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 301 of the 1,668 pupils (18%) were getting SEN support and 13 (0.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Washwood Heath Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (107 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (75 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (63 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Washwood Heath 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 Washwood Heath Academy?
Through Birmingham 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 Washwood Heath Academy?
You can ask for Washwood Heath 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 Washwood Heath 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 Saltley Academy, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Washwood Heath Academy?
Burney Lane, Stechford, Birmingham, B8 2AS, in Birmingham.
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.