St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Buxton, Derbyshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 85 of its 407 pupils (20.9%) were getting SEN support and 19 (4.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 407 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Derbyshire.
20.9% get SEN support
85 of 407 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
4.7% have an EHC plan
19 of 407 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia25
- Moderate learning difficulty24
- Social, emotional and mental health21
- Autism15
- Speech, language and communication7
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 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 407 (places for 450)
- Headteacher
- Mr David Redfern
- Part of
- St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 33.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Derbyshire
- School reference (URN)
- 146128
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 Derbyshire 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
Graded by area, June 2025
Inspected in June 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Palace Fields, Buxton, SK17 6AF
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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
- Oaklands Manor School Independent · Ages 11–17 0.9 miles
- Chapel-en-le-Frith High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 3.9 miles
- Chapel-en-le-Frith CofE VC Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 4.2 miles
- Old Sams Farm Independent School Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 4.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Anne's Catholic Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 14.7%, EHC plans 2.8% 0.2 miles
- St Peter's Church of England (VC) Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 20%, EHC plans 6.1% 0.8 miles
- Buxton Community School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 10%, EHC plans 4% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Derbyshire SEND schools in Derbyshire
Questions about St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy
How many pupils at St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 85 of the 407 pupils (20.9%) were getting SEN support and 19 (4.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (25 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (24 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (21 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy?
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 St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Through Derbyshire 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 St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy?
You can ask for St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy 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 St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy 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 Chapel-en-le-Frith High School, about 3.9 miles away.
Where is St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Palace Fields, Buxton, SK17 6AF, in Derbyshire.
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.