Vale of York Academy is a mainstream secondary school in York for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 23 of its 656 pupils (3.5%) were getting SEN support and 18 (2.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 656 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in York.
3.5% get SEN support
23 of 656 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.7% have an EHC plan
18 of 656 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health20
- Moderate learning difficulty10
- Autism6
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 (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 656 (places for 905)
- Headteacher
- Mr Alexis Green-Harding
- Part of
- Heartwood Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 24.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- York
- School reference (URN)
- 143864
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 York 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, November 2019; standards maintained (February 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2019.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, February 2025).
Contact and getting there
Rawcliffe Drive, Clifton Without, York, YO30 6ZS
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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
- Haxby Road Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- St Paul's Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–5 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- Hob Moor Oaks Academy Special school · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.0 miles
- Inspire Academy Independent · Ages 11–16 2.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Vale of York Academy
How many pupils at Vale of York Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 23 of the 656 pupils (3.5%) were getting SEN support and 18 (2.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Vale of York Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (20 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (10 pupils) and autism (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Vale of York 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 Vale of York Academy?
Through York 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 Vale of York Academy?
You can ask for Vale of York 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 Vale of York 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 Haxby Road Primary Academy, about 1.0 mile away.
Where is Vale of York Academy?
Rawcliffe Drive, Clifton Without, York, YO30 6ZS, in York.
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.