Boston Spa Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Wetherby, Leeds, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 198 of its 1,498 pupils (13.2%) were getting SEN support and 22 (1.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,498 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Leeds.
13.2% get SEN support
198 of 1,498 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1.5% have an EHC plan
22 of 1,498 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia70
- Social, emotional and mental health66
- Autism35
- Moderate learning difficulty26
- Speech, language and communication13
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
- 1,498 (places for 1,200)
- Headteacher
- Mr Peter Hollywood (Acting Headteacher)
- Part of
- The Gorse Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 19.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Leeds
- School reference (URN)
- 146217
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 Leeds 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, January 2023
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in January 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Clifford Moor Road, Boston Spa, Wetherby, LS23 6RW
Loading the map…
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
- St John's Catholic Specialist School, Boston Spa Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Riverside School, Tadcaster Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 3.9 miles
- Aspire and Achieve Independent · Ages 11–16 5.8 miles
- John Smeaton Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 6.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Primrose Lane Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.8%, EHC plans 3% 0.5 miles
- St Edward's Catholic Primary School, Boston Spa Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 9.6%, EHC plans 1% 0.5 miles
- St Mary's Church of England Controlled Primary School Boston Spa Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 17.2%, EHC plans 2.2% 0.7 miles
Questions about Boston Spa Academy
How many pupils at Boston Spa Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 198 of the 1,498 pupils (13.2%) were getting SEN support and 22 (1.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Boston Spa Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (70 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (66 pupils) and autism (35 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Boston Spa 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 Boston Spa Academy?
Through Leeds 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 Boston Spa Academy?
You can ask for Boston Spa 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 Boston Spa 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 Riverside School, Tadcaster, about 3.9 miles away.
Where is Boston Spa Academy?
Clifford Moor Road, Boston Spa, Wetherby, LS23 6RW, in Leeds.
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.