Blackpool Aspire Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Blackpool for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 125 of its 799 pupils (15.6%) were getting SEN support and 20 (2.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 799 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Blackpool.
15.6% get SEN support
125 of 799 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.5% have an EHC plan
20 of 799 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia39
- Speech, language and communication36
- Moderate learning difficulty34
- Social, emotional and mental health18
- Autism12
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
- 799 (places for 900)
- Headteacher
- Mr John Woods (Principal)
- Part of
- Fylde Coast Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 66.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Blackpool
- School reference (URN)
- 141132
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 Blackpool 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 Requires improvement, June 2024
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in June 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Blackpool Old Road, Blackpool, FY3 7LS
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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
- Highfurlong School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.0 miles
- Norman House Independent School Independent · Ages 11–16 0.2 miles
- Moor Park Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Stanley Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Layton Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 18.3%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.6 miles
- Boundary Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 19.9%, EHC plans 7.7% 0.6 miles
- St Mary's Catholic Academy Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 11.5%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Blackpool SEND schools in Blackpool
Questions about Blackpool Aspire Academy
How many pupils at Blackpool Aspire Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 125 of the 799 pupils (15.6%) were getting SEN support and 20 (2.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Blackpool Aspire Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (39 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (36 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (34 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Blackpool Aspire 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 Blackpool Aspire Academy?
Through Blackpool 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 Blackpool Aspire Academy?
You can ask for Blackpool Aspire 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 Blackpool Aspire 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 Moor Park Primary School, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is Blackpool Aspire Academy?
Blackpool Old Road, Blackpool, FY3 7LS, in Blackpool.
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.