The Pingle Academy is a mainstream secondary school with an SEN unit and resourced provision in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. Its specialist base has 50 places for autism, social, emotional and mental health, multi-sensory impairment and moderate learning difficulty.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,363 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
School details
- Type
- Mainstream school with an SEN unit and resourced provision
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Specialist base
- An SEN unit and resourced provision, 50 places, 62 pupils
- Pupils
- 1,363
- Headteacher
- Mrs Michelle Oliphant (Acting Headteacher)
- Part of
- Affinity Learning Partnership
- Council
- Derbyshire
- School reference (URN)
- 144069
Needs its base supports
6 needs: autism, SEMH and 4 more
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
Cognition and learning
- Moderate learning difficulty Other schools for this in Derbyshire (9)
- Severe learning difficulty Other schools for this in Derbyshire (10)
Social, emotional and mental health
- Social, emotional and mental health Other schools for this in Derbyshire (10)
Sensory and physical
- Multi-sensory impairment Other schools for this in Derbyshire (3)
It also lists other needs. Ask the school what these are.
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places in an SEN unit or resourced provision are usually for children with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask about the base
See the school and its specialist base, and ask how children split their time between the base and mainstream classes.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Derbyshire council) that you want this school and its base, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Places in the base itself are agreed between the council and the school, so ask how they decide.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Report card, February 2026: Needs attention in 6 of 7 areas
Inspected in February 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionNeeds attention
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Post-16Needs attention
- Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Coronation Street, Swadlincote, DE11 0QA
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Elmsleigh Infant & Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–7 0.3 miles
- Springfield Junior School Mainstream + base · Ages 7–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Esteem South Academy Alternative provision · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
All SEND schools in Derbyshire
By need in Derbyshire: Autism (21) · SEMH (11) · Severe learning (11) · Moderate learning (10) · Speech and language (9) · Physical (9) · Hearing (8) · PMLD (5) · Dyslexia and SpLD (4) · Vision (4) · Multi-sensory (4)
Questions about The Pingle Academy
How do I get a place in The Pingle Academy’s specialist base?
Places in an SEN unit or resourced provision usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult the school about its base. If the school is named in the plan it must admit your child; places in the base itself are agreed between the council and the school.
What needs does The Pingle Academy support?
Autism, social, emotional and mental health, multi-sensory impairment, moderate learning difficulty and severe learning difficulty. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does The Pingle Academy take?
Aged 11 to 18, boys and girls.
What is The Pingle Academy’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2026 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is The Pingle Academy?
Coronation Street, Swadlincote, DE11 0QA, in Derbyshire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, 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.