Bradford Forster Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Bradford for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 204 of its 892 pupils (22.9%) were getting SEN support and 47 (5.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 892 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Bradford.
22.9% get SEN support
204 of 892 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
5.3% have an EHC plan
47 of 892 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication70
- Social, emotional and mental health50
- Autism19
- Moderate learning difficulty7
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
- 892 (places for 1,050)
- Headteacher
- Mr Daniel Styles
- Part of
- Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 47.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Bradford
- School reference (URN)
- 140429
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 Bradford 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, February 2025
Inspected in February 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Fenby Avenue, Bradford, BD4 8RG
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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
- Bradford Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–19 0.3 miles
- Oastlers School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.4 miles
- Carrwood Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Bradford Beacon School Independent · Ages 4–11 1.0 mile
Other mainstream schools
- Lower Fields Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 18.7%, EHC plans 4.1% 0.0 miles
- Knowleswood Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 21.2%, EHC plans 4.1% 0.6 miles
- St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 18.8%, EHC plans 7.9% 0.7 miles
Questions about Bradford Forster Academy
How many pupils at Bradford Forster Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 204 of the 892 pupils (22.9%) were getting SEN support and 47 (5.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Bradford Forster Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (70 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (50 pupils) and autism (19 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Bradford Forster 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 Bradford Forster Academy?
Through Bradford 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 Bradford Forster Academy?
You can ask for Bradford Forster 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 Bradford Forster 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 Bradford Academy, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is Bradford Forster Academy?
Fenby Avenue, Bradford, BD4 8RG, in Bradford.
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.