Birches Head Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Stoke-on-Trent for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 146 of its 925 pupils (15.8%) were getting SEN support and 17 (1.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 925 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Stoke-on-Trent.
15.8% get SEN support
146 of 925 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1.8% have an EHC plan
17 of 925 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 health49
- Speech, language and communication43
- Moderate learning difficulty38
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia18
- Autism5
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
- 925 (places for 1,040)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Louise Toach
- Part of
- Frank Field Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 41.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Stoke-on-Trent
- School reference (URN)
- 148220
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 Stoke-on-Trent 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
Report card, June 2026: Needs attention in every area
Inspected in June 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionNeeds attention
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
- Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
- Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Birches Head Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 8DD
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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
- Spruce House School Independent · Ages 5–14 0.7 miles
- Newfriars College Independent · Ages 16–25 0.7 miles
- Kingsland CofE Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.1 miles
- Ball Green Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Holden Lane Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 21.6%, EHC plans 1.4% 0.2 miles
- Abbey Hulton Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 22.9%, EHC plans 6.9% 0.5 miles
- Carmountside Primary Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 30.6%, EHC plans 1% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Stoke-on-Trent SEND schools in Stoke-on-Trent
Questions about Birches Head Academy
How many pupils at Birches Head Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 146 of the 925 pupils (15.8%) were getting SEN support and 17 (1.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Birches Head Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (49 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (43 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (38 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Birches Head 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 Birches Head Academy?
Through Stoke-on-Trent 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 Birches Head Academy?
You can ask for Birches Head 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 Birches Head 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 Kingsland CofE Academy, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is Birches Head Academy?
Birches Head Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 8DD, in Stoke-on-Trent.
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.