Walney Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Barrow-in-Furness, Westmorland and Furness, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 102 of its 468 pupils (21.8%) were getting SEN support and 35 (7.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 468 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Westmorland and Furness.
21.8% get SEN support
102 of 468 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
7.5% have an EHC plan
35 of 468 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia47
- Social, emotional and mental health45
- Speech, language and communication42
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
- 468 (places for 900)
- Headteacher
- Ms Jennifer Wildman
- Part of
- Furness Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 27.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Westmorland and Furness
- School reference (URN)
- 141041
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 Westmorland and Furness 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, May 2025
Inspected in May 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
Sandy Gap Lane, Walney, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 3JT
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
- George Hastwell School Special Academy Special school · Ages 3–19 0.2 miles
- Vickerstown School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.6 miles
- Greengate Junior School Mainstream + base · Ages 7–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.7 miles
- Sandside Lodge School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 8.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- South Walney Infant and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–7 · SEN support 14.9%, EHC plans 3.7% 0.4 miles
- St Columba's School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.5%, EHC plans 8.5% 0.4 miles
- South Walney Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 18.2%, EHC plans 8.1% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Westmorland and Furness SEND schools in Westmorland and Furness
Questions about Walney Academy
How many pupils at Walney Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 102 of the 468 pupils (21.8%) were getting SEN support and 35 (7.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Walney Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (47 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (45 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (42 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Walney 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 Walney Academy?
Through Westmorland and Furness 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 Walney Academy?
You can ask for Walney 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 Walney 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 Vickerstown School, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Walney Academy?
Sandy Gap Lane, Walney, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 3JT, in Westmorland and Furness.
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.