Countesthorpe Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, for children and young people aged 11 to 19. In January 2026, 141 of its 1,149 pupils (12.3%) were getting SEN support and 32 (2.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–19
- 1,149 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Leicestershire.
12.3% get SEN support
141 of 1,149 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.8% have an EHC plan
32 of 1,149 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health68
- Autism31
- Speech, language and communication25
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia19
- Moderate learning difficulty13
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 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,149 (places for 1,795)
- Headteacher
- Mr Gareth Williams
- Part of
- Life Multi-Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 24.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Leicestershire
- School reference (URN)
- 147902
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 Leicestershire 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, October 2024
Inspected in October 2024. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Winchester Road, Countesthorpe, LE8 5PR
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
- Foxfields Academy Special school · Ages 4–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Wigston Birkett House Community Special School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 2.5 miles
- Wigston Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 2.5 miles
- Wigston Menphys Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–5 · Ofsted: Good 2.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Greenfield Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 11.4%, EHC plans 3.1% 0.7 miles
- Badgerbrook Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 13.3%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.9 miles
- Blaby Thistly Meadow Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 10%, EHC plans 3.6% 1.1 miles
All mainstream schools in Leicestershire SEND schools in Leicestershire
Questions about Countesthorpe Academy
How many pupils at Countesthorpe Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 141 of the 1,149 pupils (12.3%) were getting SEN support and 32 (2.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Countesthorpe Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (68 pupils), autism (31 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (25 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Countesthorpe 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 Countesthorpe Academy?
Through Leicestershire 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 Countesthorpe Academy?
You can ask for Countesthorpe 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 Countesthorpe 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 Wigston Academy, about 2.5 miles away.
Where is Countesthorpe Academy?
Winchester Road, Countesthorpe, LE8 5PR, in Leicestershire.
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.