Lancaster School is a special academy in Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, for children and young people aged 14 to 19. It supports physical, severe learning and PMLD.
- Ages 14–19
- 138 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
School details
- Type
- Special academy
- Ages
- 14 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 138 (places for 106)
- Headteacher
- Mr Tom Jackson-Owens (Headteacher)
- Part of
- SEN Trust Southend
- Opened
- 1 September 2017
- Free school meals
- 40% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Southend-on-Sea
- School reference (URN)
- 144693
Needs it supports
3 needs: physical, severe learning and 1 more
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Cognition and learning
- Severe learning difficulty Other schools for this in Southend-on-Sea (1)
- Profound and multiple learning difficulties Other schools for this in Southend-on-Sea (1)
Sensory and physical
- Physical disability Other schools for this in Southend-on-Sea (1)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through 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 questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Southend-on-Sea council) that this is the school you want, 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. Free home-to-school transport is often part of the arrangement.
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, June 2026: Expected standard in 5 of 7 areas
Inspected in June 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Post-16Expected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, March 2022).
Contact and getting there
Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 0RT
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Chase High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.0 miles
- Southend High School for Boys Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.3 miles
- Southend YMCA Community School Alternative provision · Ages 14–18 0.9 miles
All SEND schools in Southend-on-Sea
By need in Southend-on-Sea: Autism (10) · Moderate learning (4) · SEMH (3) · Severe learning (2) · PMLD (2) · Physical (2)
Questions about Lancaster School
How do I get a place at Lancaster School?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult Lancaster School. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does Lancaster School support?
Physical disability, severe learning difficulty and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does Lancaster School take?
Aged 14 to 19, boys and girls.
What is Lancaster School’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in June 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 Lancaster School?
Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 0RT, in Southend-on-Sea.
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.