Forest Gate Community School is a mainstream secondary school in Newham, London, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 91 of its 1,343 pupils (6.8%) were getting SEN support and 41 (3.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,343 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Newham.
6.8% get SEN support
91 of 1,343 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.1% have an EHC plan
41 of 1,343 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism37
- Speech, language and communication22
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia17
- Social, emotional and mental health11
- Hearing impairment10
- Moderate learning difficulty8
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
- 1,343 (places for 1,350)
- Headteacher
- Ms Stacey Lord
- Part of
- Community Schools Trust
- Free school meals
- 50% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Newham
- School reference (URN)
- 143274
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 Newham 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 Outstanding, February 2016; school remains Outstanding (December 2021)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in February 2016. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Outstanding (ungraded inspection, December 2021).
Contact and getting there
Forest Lane, London, E7 9BB
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
- Sandringham Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.6 miles
- Stratford School Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- East London Independent School Independent · Ages 7–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.8 miles
- John F Kennedy Special School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Forest Gate Community School
How many pupils at Forest Gate Community School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 91 of the 1,343 pupils (6.8%) were getting SEN support and 41 (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 Forest Gate Community School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (37 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (22 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (17 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Forest Gate Community 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 Forest Gate Community School?
Through Newham 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 Forest Gate Community School?
You can ask for Forest Gate Community 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 Forest Gate Community 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 Sandringham Primary School, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Forest Gate Community School?
Forest Lane, London, E7 9BB, in Newham.
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.