The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School is a mainstream secondary school in Kensington and Chelsea, London, for boys aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 125 of its 1,034 pupils (12.1%) were getting SEN support and 56 (5.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,034 pupils
- Boys only
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Kensington and Chelsea.
12.1% get SEN support
125 of 1,034 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.4% have an EHC plan
56 of 1,034 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health39
- Autism37
- Speech, language and communication32
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia31
- Moderate learning difficulty23
- 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 only
- Pupils
- 1,034 (places for 922)
- Headteacher
- Mr Aaron Cosgrove (Headmaster)
- Part of
- Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 18.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Kensington and Chelsea
- School reference (URN)
- 141931
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 Kensington and Chelsea 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
Report card, April 2026: Exceptional in 4 of 7 areas
Inspected in April 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- AchievementExceptional
- Attendance and behaviourExceptional
- Personal development and wellbeingExceptional
- Post-16Strong standard
- Leadership and governanceExceptional
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
89 Addison Road, London, W14 8BZ
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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
- Catch22 Include London Independent · Ages 11–17 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Kensington Aldridge Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.7 miles
- Miles Coverdale Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.7 miles
- Parayhouse School Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Clement and St James CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 29.3%, EHC plans 7.3% 0.4 miles
- Addison Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.5%, EHC plans 4.5% 0.4 miles
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.7%, EHC plans 6.1% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Kensington and Chelsea SEND schools in Kensington and Chelsea
Questions about The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School
How many pupils at The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 125 of the 1,034 pupils (12.1%) were getting SEN support and 56 (5.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (39 pupils), autism (37 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (32 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC 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 The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School?
Through Kensington and Chelsea 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 The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School?
You can ask for The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC 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 The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC 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 Kensington Aldridge Academy, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School?
89 Addison Road, London, W14 8BZ, in Kensington and Chelsea.
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.