St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow is a mainstream secondary school in Barrow-in-Furness, Westmorland and Furness, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 64 of its 624 pupils (10.3%) were getting SEN support and 43 (6.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 624 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Westmorland and Furness.
10.3% get SEN support
64 of 624 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
6.9% have an EHC plan
43 of 624 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health28
- Moderate learning difficulty27
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia17
- Speech, language and communication15
- Autism14
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
- 624 (places for 916)
- Headteacher
- Mr Daniel Vince
- Part of
- Mater Christi Multi-Academy Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 28.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Westmorland and Furness
- School reference (URN)
- 148702
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 Westmorland and Furness 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
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Rating Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, LA13 9LE
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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
- Greengate Junior School Mainstream + base · Ages 7–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.4 miles
- Dowdales School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 2.1 miles
- George Hastwell School Special Academy Special school · Ages 3–19 2.8 miles
- Sandside Lodge School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 6.0 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Chetwynde School All-through · Ages 3–16 · SEN support 12.6%, EHC plans 9.1% 0.2 miles
- Holy Family Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 4.1%, EHC plans 4.1% 0.5 miles
- Newbarns Primary and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.3%, EHC plans 8.8% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Westmorland and Furness SEND schools in Westmorland and Furness
Questions about St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow
How many pupils at St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 64 of the 624 pupils (10.3%) were getting SEN support and 43 (6.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (28 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (27 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (17 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow?
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 St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow?
Through Westmorland and Furness 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 St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow?
You can ask for St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow 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 St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow 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 Greengate Junior School, about 1.4 miles away.
Where is St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow?
Rating Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, LA13 9LE, in Westmorland and Furness.
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.