The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School) is an all-through mainstream school in Harleston, Norfolk, for children and young people aged 3 to 16. In January 2026, 119 of its 824 pupils (14.4%) were getting SEN support and 69 (8.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–16
- 824 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Norfolk.
14.4% get SEN support
119 of 824 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
8.4% have an EHC plan
69 of 824 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty57
- Social, emotional and mental health47
- Speech, language and communication37
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia32
- Autism6
- Physical disability5
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 all-through school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 3 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 824 (places for 973)
- Headteacher
- Rob Connelly
- Part of
- The Diocese of Norwich St Benet's Multi-Academy Trust
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 24.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Norfolk
- School reference (URN)
- 149197
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 Norfolk 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, June 2025
Inspected in June 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Wilderness Lane, Harleston, IP20 9DD
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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
- Manor Field Infant and Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–7 · Ofsted: Good 6.6 miles
- Bungay High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 7.0 miles
- Castle EAST School Special school · Ages 9–16 · Ofsted: Outstanding 7.6 miles
- Turnstone House School Independent · Ages 8–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 10 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Mendham Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 26.3%, EHC plans 8.8% 1.8 miles
- Alburgh With Denton Church of England Primary Academy Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 8.1%, EHC plans 4% 3.0 miles
- Pulham Church of England Primary Academy Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 18.4%, EHC plans 11.2% 3.3 miles
Questions about The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School)
How many pupils at The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School) have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 119 of the 824 pupils (14.4%) were getting SEN support and 69 (8.4%) 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 Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School)?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (57 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (47 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (37 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England 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 Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School)?
Through Norfolk 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 Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School)?
You can ask for The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England 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 Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England 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 Manor Field Infant and Nursery School, about 6.6 miles away.
Where is The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School)?
Wilderness Lane, Harleston, IP20 9DD, in Norfolk.
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.