The Grove School is a mainstream secondary school in Market Drayton, Shropshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 158 of its 856 pupils (18.5%) were getting SEN support and 19 (2.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 856 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Shropshire.
18.5% get SEN support
158 of 856 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.2% have an EHC plan
19 of 856 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 dyslexia64
- Social, emotional and mental health41
- Moderate learning difficulty32
- Speech, language and communication14
- Autism12
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
- 856 (places for 1,206)
- Headteacher
- Mr Mitchell Allsopp
- Part of
- Marches Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 30% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Shropshire
- School reference (URN)
- 146580
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 Shropshire 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 Requires improvement, April 2023
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in April 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Newcastle Road, Market Drayton, TF9 1HF
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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
- Longlands Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Physis Academy Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 8.9 miles
- Sir John Talbot's School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 9.0 miles
- Acorn Wood Independent · Ages 5–16 9.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Market Drayton Infant & Nursery School Primary · Ages 2–7 · SEN support 13.3%, EHC plans 4.9% 0.6 miles
- Market Drayton Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 14.7%, EHC plans 3% 0.9 miles
- Buntingsdale Primary School and Nursery Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 28.9%, EHC plans 1.3% 2.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Shropshire SEND schools in Shropshire
Questions about The Grove School
How many pupils at The Grove School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 158 of the 856 pupils (18.5%) were getting SEN support and 19 (2.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Grove School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (64 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (41 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (32 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Grove 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 The Grove School?
Through Shropshire 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 The Grove School?
You can ask for The Grove 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 The Grove 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 Longlands Primary School, about 0.2 miles away.
Where is The Grove School?
Newcastle Road, Market Drayton, TF9 1HF, in Shropshire.
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.