Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Cowes, Isle of Wight, for children and young people aged 11 to 19. In January 2026, 205 of its 1,156 pupils (17.7%) were getting SEN support and 41 (3.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–19
- 1,156 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Isle of Wight.
17.7% get SEN support
205 of 1,156 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.5% have an EHC plan
41 of 1,156 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health88
- Autism82
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia41
- Moderate learning difficulty17
- Speech, language and communication11
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 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,156 (places for 1,585)
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Slaughter (Principal)
- Part of
- Ormiston Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 23.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Isle of Wight
- School reference (URN)
- 140845
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 Isle of Wight 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, September 2017; school remains Good (March 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in September 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, March 2023).
Contact and getting there
Crossfield Avenue, Cowes, PO31 8HB
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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
- Medina College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 3.7 miles
- Hunnyhill Ormiston Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 3.8 miles
- Medina House School Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 4.3 miles
- New Forest School Independent · Ages 7–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 4.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Gurnard Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 17.2%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.5 miles
- Lanesend Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 27.5%, EHC plans 9.5% 0.8 miles
- Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 18.9%, EHC plans 1.4% 1.2 miles
All mainstream schools in Isle of Wight SEND schools in Isle of Wight
Questions about Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy
How many pupils at Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 205 of the 1,156 pupils (17.7%) were getting SEN support and 41 (3.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (88 pupils), autism (82 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (41 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston 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 Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy?
Through Isle of Wight 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 Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy?
You can ask for Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston 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 Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston 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 Medina College, about 3.7 miles away.
Where is Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy?
Crossfield Avenue, Cowes, PO31 8HB, in Isle of Wight.
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.