West Craven High School is a mainstream secondary school in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 109 of its 528 pupils (20.6%) were getting SEN support and 10 (1.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 528 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Lancashire.
20.6% get SEN support
109 of 528 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
1.9% have an EHC plan
10 of 528 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 dyslexia40
- Moderate learning difficulty29
- Social, emotional and mental health21
- Autism18
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 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 528 (places for 845)
- Headteacher
- Mr John Bates
- Part of
- Pendle Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 28.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Lancashire
- School reference (URN)
- 142856
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 Lancashire 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, July 2024
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in July 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Kelbrook Road, Barnoldswick, BB18 5TB
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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
- The Nook School Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 4.5 miles
- Barrowford School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 4.5 miles
- Pendle View Primary School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 4.5 miles
- The Skipton Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 6.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Barnoldswick Church of England Controlled Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14.9%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.0 miles
- Salterforth Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 23.5%, EHC plans 2.9% 0.5 miles
- Gisburn Road Community Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 8.8%, EHC plans 5.4% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Lancashire SEND schools in Lancashire
Questions about West Craven High School
How many pupils at West Craven High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 109 of the 528 pupils (20.6%) were getting SEN support and 10 (1.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at West Craven High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (40 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (29 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (21 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at West Craven High 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 West Craven High School?
Through Lancashire 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 West Craven High School?
You can ask for West Craven High 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 West Craven High 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 Barrowford School, about 4.5 miles away.
Where is West Craven High School?
Kelbrook Road, Barnoldswick, BB18 5TB, in Lancashire.
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.