Rushden Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Rushden, North Northamptonshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 96 of its 961 pupils (10%) were getting SEN support and 37 (3.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 961 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in North Northamptonshire.
10% get SEN support
96 of 961 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.9% have an EHC plan
37 of 961 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health47
- Profound and multiple learning difficulty25
- Speech, language and communication19
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia16
- Moderate learning difficulty9
- Autism8
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 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 961 (places for 1,295)
- Headteacher
- Mr Jonathan Firth
- Part of
- Tove Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 24.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- North Northamptonshire
- School reference (URN)
- 146209
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 North Northamptonshire 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, September 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in September 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Hayway, Rushden, NN10 6AG
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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
- Denfield Park Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Chelveston Road School Special school · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- Rowan Gate Primary School - Four Sites Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 3.6 miles
- Wollaston School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 3.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Alfred Lord Tennyson School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 21.8%, EHC plans 6.1% 0.6 miles
- Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School Primary · Ages 3–7 · SEN support 8.2%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.6 miles
- The Ferrers School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 3.5%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in North Northamptonshire SEND schools in North Northamptonshire
Questions about Rushden Academy
How many pupils at Rushden Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 96 of the 961 pupils (10%) were getting SEN support and 37 (3.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Rushden Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (47 pupils), profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) (25 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (19 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Rushden 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 Rushden Academy?
Through North Northamptonshire 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 Rushden Academy?
You can ask for Rushden 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 Rushden 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 Denfield Park Primary School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Rushden Academy?
Hayway, Rushden, NN10 6AG, in North Northamptonshire.
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.