Great Yarmouth Charter Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 109 of its 882 pupils (12.4%) were getting SEN support and 37 (4.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 882 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Norfolk.
12.4% get SEN support
109 of 882 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.2% have an EHC plan
37 of 882 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 difficulty36
- Autism32
- Social, emotional and mental health23
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia19
- Speech, language and communication11
- Physical disability9
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
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 882 (places for 1,500)
- Headteacher
- Mr James Gosden (Principal)
- Part of
- Inspiration Trust
- Faith
- Christian
- Free school meals
- 55.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Norfolk
- School reference (URN)
- 142883
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 Norfolk 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, July 2019; school remains Good (June 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in July 2019. 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, June 2024).
Contact and getting there
Salisbury Road, Great Yarmouth, NR30 4LS
Loading the map…
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
- Bure Park Specialist Academy Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Novaturient School Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.7 miles
- St Nicholas Priory CofE VA Primary School and Nursery Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Southtown Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Northgate Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 21.2%, EHC plans 6.4% 0.4 miles
- North Denes Primary School and Nursery Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 15.5%, EHC plans 4.5% 0.6 miles
- St. George's Primary School & St. George's Nursery School, Great Yarmouth Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.4%, EHC plans 1.5% 1.2 miles
Questions about Great Yarmouth Charter Academy
How many pupils at Great Yarmouth Charter Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 109 of the 882 pupils (12.4%) were getting SEN support and 37 (4.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Great Yarmouth Charter Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (36 pupils), autism (32 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (23 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Great Yarmouth Charter 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 Great Yarmouth Charter Academy?
Through Norfolk 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 Great Yarmouth Charter Academy?
You can ask for Great Yarmouth Charter 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 Great Yarmouth Charter 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 St Nicholas Priory CofE VA Primary School and Nursery, about 0.8 miles away.
Where is Great Yarmouth Charter Academy?
Salisbury Road, Great Yarmouth, NR30 4LS, in Norfolk.
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.