Co-op Academy Failsworth is a mainstream secondary school in Manchester, Oldham, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 223 of its 1,434 pupils (15.6%) were getting SEN support and 30 (2.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,434 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Oldham.
15.6% get SEN support
223 of 1,434 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.1% have an EHC plan
30 of 1,434 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 health98
- Speech, language and communication52
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia50
- Moderate learning difficulty23
- Autism16
- Visual impairment5
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
- 1,434 (places for 1,500)
- Headteacher
- Rebecca Shaw
- Part of
- The Co-Operative Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 44.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Oldham
- School reference (URN)
- 144627
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 Oldham 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, June 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Brierley Avenue, Failsworth, Manchester, M35 9HA
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
- Teenage Kicks Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- New Bridge School Special school · Ages 5–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.6 miles
- Greenside Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- St Stephen's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St John's Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 21.2%, EHC plans 3.5% 0.3 miles
- Higher Failsworth Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.9%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.4 miles
- St Mary's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 9.1%, EHC plans 2.9% 0.5 miles
Questions about Co-op Academy Failsworth
How many pupils at Co-op Academy Failsworth have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 223 of the 1,434 pupils (15.6%) were getting SEN support and 30 (2.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Co-op Academy Failsworth?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (98 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (52 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (50 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Co-op Academy Failsworth?
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 Co-op Academy Failsworth?
Through Oldham 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 Co-op Academy Failsworth?
You can ask for Co-op Academy Failsworth 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 Co-op Academy Failsworth 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 Greenside Primary School, about 1.5 miles away.
Where is Co-op Academy Failsworth?
Brierley Avenue, Failsworth, Manchester, M35 9HA, in Oldham.
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.