St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington is a mainstream secondary school in Workington, Cumberland, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 121 of its 539 pupils (22.4%) were getting SEN support and 24 (4.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 539 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Cumberland.
22.4% get SEN support
121 of 539 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
4.5% have an EHC plan
24 of 539 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism40
- Social, emotional and mental health29
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia26
- Moderate learning difficulty21
- Speech, language and communication19
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
- 539 (places for 615)
- Headteacher
- Mr Ian Nevitt
- Part of
- Mater Christi Multi-Academy Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 42.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cumberland
- School reference (URN)
- 148703
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 Cumberland 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, November 2023
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in November 2023.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Harrington Road, Workington, CA14 3EE
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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
- Ashfield Junior School Mainstream + base · Ages 7–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.2 miles
- Workington Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Branthwaite Academy Special school · Ages 4–19 1.5 miles
- Mayfield School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 6.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Ashfield Infant & Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–7 · SEN support 12%, EHC plans 2% 0.2 miles
- Victoria Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 21.5%, EHC plans 5.1% 0.4 miles
- Victoria Infant and Nursery School Primary · Ages 2–7 · SEN support 12.7%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Cumberland SEND schools in Cumberland
Questions about St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington
How many pupils at St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 121 of the 539 pupils (22.4%) were getting SEN support and 24 (4.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (40 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (29 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (26 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington?
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 Josephs Catholic High School, Workington?
Through Cumberland 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 Josephs Catholic High School, Workington?
You can ask for St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington 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 Josephs Catholic High School, Workington 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 Ashfield Junior School, about 0.2 miles away.
Where is St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington?
Harrington Road, Workington, CA14 3EE, in Cumberland.
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.