Beckfoot Upper Heaton is a mainstream secondary school in Bradford for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 217 of its 679 pupils (32%) were getting SEN support and 21 (3.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 679 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Bradford.
32% get SEN support
217 of 679 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.1% have an EHC plan
21 of 679 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty117
- Social, emotional and mental health61
- Speech, language and communication37
- Autism9
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia6
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
- 679 (places for 727)
- Headteacher
- Mr Biman Dey
- Part of
- Beckfoot Trust
- Free school meals
- 49.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Bradford
- School reference (URN)
- 142031
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 Bradford 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, March 2018; school remains Good (May 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2018. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, May 2023).
Contact and getting there
Thorn Lane, Heaton, Bradford, BD9 6AL
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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
- Chellow Heights Special School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.0 miles
- High Park School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.1 miles
- Cottingley Village Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Girlington Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Beckfoot Heaton Primary Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 28.9%, EHC plans 3.5% 0.1 miles
- Belle Vue Girls' Academy Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 9.2%, EHC plans 1.1% 0.2 miles
- St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 17.9%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.9 miles
Questions about Beckfoot Upper Heaton
How many pupils at Beckfoot Upper Heaton have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 217 of the 679 pupils (32%) were getting SEN support and 21 (3.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Beckfoot Upper Heaton?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (117 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (61 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (37 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Beckfoot Upper Heaton?
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 Beckfoot Upper Heaton?
Through Bradford 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 Beckfoot Upper Heaton?
You can ask for Beckfoot Upper Heaton 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 Beckfoot Upper Heaton 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 Cottingley Village Primary School, about 0.8 miles away.
Where is Beckfoot Upper Heaton?
Thorn Lane, Heaton, Bradford, BD9 6AL, in Bradford.
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.