Clifton Community School is a mainstream secondary school in Rotherham for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 282 of its 1,146 pupils (24.6%) were getting SEN support and 46 (4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,146 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Rotherham.
24.6% get SEN support
282 of 1,146 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
4% have an EHC plan
46 of 1,146 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 difficulty92
- Autism64
- Social, emotional and mental health62
- Speech, language and communication61
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia24
- Hearing impairment11
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.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,146 (places for 1,250)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Marie Smith
- Part of
- Wickersley Partnership Trust
- Free school meals
- 63.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Rotherham
- School reference (URN)
- 143545
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 Rotherham 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, December 2019; some aspects not as strong (November 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in December 2019.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Some aspects not as strong (ungraded inspection, November 2024).
Contact and getting there
Middle Lane, Rotherham, S65 2SN
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
- ROTHERHAM OPPORTUNITIES COLLEGE Independent · Ages 16–25 0.4 miles
- Newman School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 1.8 miles
- Greasbrough Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.9 miles
- Winterhill School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 2.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Ann's Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 17.1%, EHC plans 0.8% 0.2 miles
- Coleridge Primary Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 7.1%, EHC plans 4.3% 0.3 miles
- East Dene Primary Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 7.4%, EHC plans 4.3% 0.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Rotherham SEND schools in Rotherham
Questions about Clifton Community School
How many pupils at Clifton Community School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 282 of the 1,146 pupils (24.6%) were getting SEN support and 46 (4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Clifton Community School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (92 pupils), autism (64 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (62 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Clifton 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 Clifton Community School?
Through Rotherham 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 Clifton Community School?
You can ask for Clifton 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 Clifton 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 Greasbrough Primary School, about 1.9 miles away.
Where is Clifton Community School?
Middle Lane, Rotherham, S65 2SN, in Rotherham.
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.