SEN2gether

Goresbrook School is an all-through mainstream school in Dagenham, Barking and Dagenham, for children and young people aged 2 to 18. In January 2026, 97 of its 1,089 pupils (8.9%) were getting SEN support and 15 (1.4%) had an EHC plan.

  • Ages 2–18
  • 1,089 pupils

Special educational needs here

From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Barking and Dagenham.

8.9% get SEN support

97 of 1,089 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.

  • This school8.9%
  • England14.1%
  • Barking and Dagenham10%

Lower than the England average.

1.4% have an EHC plan

15 of 1,089 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.

  • This school1.4%
  • England3.5%
  • Barking and Dagenham3%

Lower than the England average.

Most common needs

  • Speech, language and communication47
  • Social, emotional and mental health27
  • Autism25

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
Free school
Ages
2 to 18
Boys and girls
Boys and girls
Pupils
1,089 (places for 1,500)
Headteacher
Miss Megan Harris
Part of
United Learning Trust
Faith
Multi-faith
Free school meals
32.5% of pupils eligible
Council
Barking and Dagenham
School reference (URN)
140962

How SEN support works

4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. An EHC needs assessment

    If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Barking and Dagenham 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.

  4. 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, October 2024

Inspected in October 2024. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.

  • Quality of educationOutstanding
  • Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
  • Personal developmentOutstanding
  • Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Early yearsOutstanding
  • Sixth formOutstanding
  • SafeguardingEffective

Contact and getting there

Cook Road, Dagenham, RM9 6XW

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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive

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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.

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Nearby

Specialist schools and SEN units

Other mainstream schools

All mainstream schools in Barking and Dagenham SEND schools in Barking and Dagenham

Questions about Goresbrook School

How many pupils at Goresbrook School have special educational needs?

In the January 2026 school census, 97 of the 1,089 pupils (8.9%) were getting SEN support and 15 (1.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.

What are the most common needs at Goresbrook School?

Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (47 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (27 pupils) and autism (25 pupils).

Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Goresbrook School?

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 Goresbrook School?

Through Barking and Dagenham 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 Goresbrook School?

You can ask for Goresbrook School 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 Goresbrook School 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 Jo Richardson Community School, about 0.2 miles away.

Where is Goresbrook School?

Cook Road, Dagenham, RM9 6XW, in Barking and Dagenham.

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.

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