The Halifax Academy is an all-through mainstream school in Halifax, Calderdale, for children and young people aged 4 to 16. In January 2026, 230 of its 1,461 pupils (15.7%) were getting SEN support and 69 (4.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–16
- 1,461 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Calderdale.
15.7% get SEN support
230 of 1,461 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.7% have an EHC plan
69 of 1,461 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty126
- Speech, language and communication73
- Social, emotional and mental health34
- Autism25
- Physical disability12
- 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 all-through school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 4 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,461 (places for 1,320)
- Headteacher
- Mr Matt Perry
- Part of
- Impact Education Multi Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 41% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Calderdale
- School reference (URN)
- 140326
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 Calderdale 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, June 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Gibbet Street, Halifax, HX2 0BA
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
- Broadwood School Independent · Ages 7–18 0.7 miles
- Trinity Academy Grammar Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Compass Community School Willow Park Independent · Ages 6–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.0 mile
- Cross Lane Primary and Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Ling Bob Junior, Infant and Nursery School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 8.8%, EHC plans 7.3% 0.3 miles
- Mount Pellon Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 18.5%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.4 miles
- Christ Church Pellon CofE VC Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 28.3%, EHC plans 15.1% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Calderdale SEND schools in Calderdale
Questions about The Halifax Academy
How many pupils at The Halifax Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 230 of the 1,461 pupils (15.7%) were getting SEN support and 69 (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 Halifax Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (126 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (73 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (34 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Halifax 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 Halifax Academy?
Through Calderdale 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 Halifax Academy?
You can ask for The Halifax 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 Halifax 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 Trinity Academy Grammar, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is The Halifax Academy?
Gibbet Street, Halifax, HX2 0BA, in Calderdale.
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.