The Blyth Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Blyth, Northumberland, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 102 of its 766 pupils (13.3%) were getting SEN support and 36 (4.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 766 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Northumberland.
13.3% get SEN support
102 of 766 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.7% have an EHC plan
36 of 766 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 health42
- Moderate learning difficulty33
- Speech, language and communication25
- Autism16
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia8
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
- 766 (places for 1,100)
- Headteacher
- Ms Jodie Urwin (Principal)
- Part of
- Northern Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 50.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Northumberland
- School reference (URN)
- 140002
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 Northumberland 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, July 2021; standards maintained (April 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in July 2021.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, April 2025).
Contact and getting there
Chase Farm Drive, Blyth, NE24 4JP
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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 Dales School Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.4 miles
- Newsham Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 0.9 miles
- Gilbert Ward Academy Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.2 miles
- Cambois Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.0 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Horton Grange Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 16.5%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.4 miles
- New Delaval Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 18.7%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.8 miles
- Malvin's Close Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 22.7%, EHC plans 3.4% 1.0 mile
All mainstream schools in Northumberland SEND schools in Northumberland
Questions about The Blyth Academy
How many pupils at The Blyth Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 102 of the 766 pupils (13.3%) were getting SEN support and 36 (4.7%) 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 Blyth Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (42 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (33 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (25 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Blyth 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 The Blyth Academy?
Through Northumberland 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 Blyth Academy?
You can ask for The Blyth 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 The Blyth 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 Newsham Primary School, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is The Blyth Academy?
Chase Farm Drive, Blyth, NE24 4JP, in Northumberland.
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.