Ormiston Chadwick Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Widnes, Halton, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 167 of its 884 pupils (18.9%) were getting SEN support and 24 (2.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 884 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Halton.
18.9% get SEN support
167 of 884 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.7% have an EHC plan
24 of 884 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health63
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia34
- Speech, language and communication30
- Visual impairment21
- Moderate learning difficulty17
- Autism15
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
- 884 (places for 976)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Jennifer Lowry-Johnson (Principal)
- Part of
- Ormiston Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 51.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Halton
- School reference (URN)
- 140864
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 Halton 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, May 2024; school remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next (October 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, October 2022).
Contact and getting there
Liverpool Road, Widnes, WA8 7HU
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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
- Ashley High School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.3 miles
- Chesnut Lodge Special School Special school · Ages 2–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- Oakfield Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.7 miles
- Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Ditton Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 15.5%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.4 miles
- All Saints Upton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 23.6%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.7 miles
- St Michaels Catholic Primary & Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 24.5%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.8 miles
Questions about Ormiston Chadwick Academy
How many pupils at Ormiston Chadwick Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 167 of the 884 pupils (18.9%) were getting SEN support and 24 (2.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Ormiston Chadwick Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (63 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (34 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (30 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ormiston Chadwick 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 Ormiston Chadwick Academy?
Through Halton 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 Ormiston Chadwick Academy?
You can ask for Ormiston Chadwick 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 Ormiston Chadwick 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 Oakfield Community Primary School, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is Ormiston Chadwick Academy?
Liverpool Road, Widnes, WA8 7HU, in Halton.
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.