Leigh Academy Blackheath is a mainstream secondary school in Greenwich, London, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 197 of its 1,060 pupils (18.6%) were getting SEN support and 38 (3.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,060 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Greenwich.
18.6% get SEN support
197 of 1,060 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.6% have an EHC plan
38 of 1,060 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia58
- Autism54
- Social, emotional and mental health31
- Speech, language and communication25
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
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,060 (places for 1,150)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Emma Smith
- Part of
- Leigh Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 27.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Greenwich
- School reference (URN)
- 145895
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 Greenwich 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 Outstanding, December 2022
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in December 2022.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Old Dover Road, Blackheath, London, SE3 8SY
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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
- Rowan Wood School Special school · Ages 5–19 0.5 miles
- Fossdene Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.5 miles
- Thomas Tallis School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Charlton Park Academy Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Cherry Orchard Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 40.8%, EHC plans 14.9% 0.3 miles
- Sherington Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 17.2%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.3 miles
- Invicta Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 20.3%, EHC plans 4.2% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Greenwich SEND schools in Greenwich
Questions about Leigh Academy Blackheath
How many pupils at Leigh Academy Blackheath have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 197 of the 1,060 pupils (18.6%) were getting SEN support and 38 (3.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Leigh Academy Blackheath?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (58 pupils), autism (54 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (31 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Leigh Academy Blackheath?
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 Leigh Academy Blackheath?
Through Greenwich 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 Leigh Academy Blackheath?
You can ask for Leigh Academy Blackheath 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 Leigh Academy Blackheath 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 Fossdene Primary School, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Leigh Academy Blackheath?
Old Dover Road, Blackheath, London, SE3 8SY, in Greenwich.
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.