Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School is a mainstream secondary school in Birmingham for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 196 of its 1,152 pupils (17%) were getting SEN support and 11 (1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,152 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Birmingham.
17% get SEN support
196 of 1,152 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1% have an EHC plan
11 of 1,152 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty48
- Autism43
- Social, emotional and mental health40
- Speech, language and communication32
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia15
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
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,152 (places for 1,190)
- Headteacher
- Mr Dan Hearnden
- Part of
- St Teresa of Calcutta Multi Academy Company
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 48.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Birmingham
- School reference (URN)
- 146124
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 Birmingham 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
Special measures. Report card, May 2026: Urgent improvement in 3 of 7 areas
Ofsted has placed this school in special measures.
Inspected in May 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionUrgent improvement
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Attendance and behaviourUrgent improvement
- Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
- Post-16Expected standard
- Leadership and governanceUrgent improvement
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, October 2023).
Contact and getting there
Victoria Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, B27 7XY
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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
- Trident Alternative Provision Ltd Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Ninestiles, an Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Lakey Lane Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Reynalds Cross School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Acocks Green Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 22.3%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.2 miles
- Holy Souls Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14.9%, EHC plans 1.1% 0.2 miles
- The Oaklands Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 18%, EHC plans 0.7% 0.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Birmingham SEND schools in Birmingham
Questions about Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School
How many pupils at Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 196 of the 1,152 pupils (17%) were getting SEN support and 11 (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 Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (48 pupils), autism (43 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (40 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School?
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 Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School?
Through Birmingham 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 Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School?
You can ask for Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School 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 Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School 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 Ninestiles, an Academy, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School?
Victoria Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, B27 7XY, in Birmingham.
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.