Greatfields School is a mainstream secondary school in Barking, Barking and Dagenham, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 155 of its 1,248 pupils (12.4%) were getting SEN support and 14 (1.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,248 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Barking and Dagenham.
12.4% get SEN support
155 of 1,248 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1.1% have an EHC plan
14 of 1,248 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication73
- Social, emotional and mental health29
- Moderate learning difficulty27
- Autism14
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia10
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 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,248 (places for 1,824)
- Headteacher
- Mr David Hudson (Executive Principal)
- Part of
- Partnership Learning
- Free school meals
- 34.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Barking and Dagenham
- School reference (URN)
- 142908
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 Barking and Dagenham 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, June 2019; standards maintained (October 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2019. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, October 2024).
Contact and getting there
Net Street, Barking, IG11 7QG
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
- Northstar New School Independent · Ages 7–16 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.3 miles
- Ripple Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- Eastbury Community School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Horizon Academy Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Greatfields Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 20%, EHC plans 0% 0.1 miles
- Gascoigne Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.7%, EHC plans 2.2% 0.1 miles
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 19%, EHC plans 1.7% 0.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Barking and Dagenham SEND schools in Barking and Dagenham
Questions about Greatfields School
How many pupils at Greatfields School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 155 of the 1,248 pupils (12.4%) were getting SEN support and 14 (1.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Greatfields School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (73 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (29 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (27 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Greatfields 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 Greatfields School?
Through Barking and Dagenham 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 Greatfields School?
You can ask for Greatfields 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 Greatfields 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 Ripple Primary School, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is Greatfields School?
Net Street, Barking, IG11 7QG, in Barking and Dagenham.
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.