St Mary's Catholic Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Blackpool for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 137 of its 1,188 pupils (11.5%) were getting SEN support and 28 (2.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,188 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Blackpool.
11.5% get SEN support
137 of 1,188 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.4% have an EHC plan
28 of 1,188 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 health56
- Speech, language and communication41
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia36
- Autism13
- Moderate learning difficulty8
- Hearing impairment5
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
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,188 (places for 1,199)
- Headteacher
- Juliet Morgan
- Part of
- The Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 35.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Blackpool
- School reference (URN)
- 141257
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 Good, May 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
St Walburga's Road, Blackpool, FY3 7EQ
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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 0.8 miles
- Norman House Independent School Independent · Ages 11–16 0.9 miles
- Moor Park Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
- Revoe Learning Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Christ The King Catholic Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.2%, EHC plans 5.8% 0.2 miles
- Boundary Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 19.9%, EHC plans 7.7% 0.2 miles
- Layton Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 18.3%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Blackpool SEND schools in Blackpool
Questions about St Mary's Catholic Academy
How many pupils at St Mary's Catholic Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 137 of the 1,188 pupils (11.5%) were getting SEN support and 28 (2.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Mary's Catholic Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (56 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (41 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (36 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Mary's Catholic 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 St Mary's Catholic 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 St Mary's Catholic Academy?
You can ask for St Mary's Catholic 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 St Mary's Catholic 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 1.4 miles away.
Where is St Mary's Catholic Academy?
St Walburga's Road, Blackpool, FY3 7EQ, 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.