Birley Primary Academy is a mainstream primary school in Sheffield for children aged 2 to 11. In January 2026, 66 of its 525 pupils (12.6%) were getting SEN support and 14 (2.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 2–11
- 525 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Sheffield.
12.6% get SEN support
66 of 525 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.7% have an EHC plan
14 of 525 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication30
- Autism11
- Social, emotional and mental health9
- Moderate learning difficulty7
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia7
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 primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 525 (places for 630)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Dawn McAughey
- Part of
- L.e.a.d. Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 27.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Sheffield
- School reference (URN)
- 143964
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 Sheffield 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, May 2013; standards maintained (March 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2013. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, March 2025).
Contact and getting there
Thornbridge Avenue, Birley, Sheffield, S12 3AB
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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
- The Birley Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 0.3 miles
- Birley Spa Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.6 miles
- Archdale School Special school · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.9 miles
- Kingfisher Academy Special school · Ages 5–18 · Ofsted: Good 2.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Charnock Hall Primary Academy Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 16.5%, EHC plans 0.2% 0.7 miles
- St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 18.2%, EHC plans 2% 0.7 miles
- Gleadless Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 24.2%, EHC plans 4.5% 1.0 mile
All mainstream schools in Sheffield SEND schools in Sheffield
Questions about Birley Primary Academy
How many pupils at Birley Primary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 66 of the 525 pupils (12.6%) were getting SEN support and 14 (2.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Birley Primary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (30 pupils), autism (11 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (9 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Birley Primary 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 Birley Primary Academy?
Through Sheffield 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 Birley Primary Academy?
You can ask for Birley Primary 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 Birley Primary 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 The Birley Academy, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is Birley Primary Academy?
Thornbridge Avenue, Birley, Sheffield, S12 3AB, in Sheffield.
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.