Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School is a mainstream secondary school in Rossendale, Lancashire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 89 of its 1,087 pupils (8.2%) were getting SEN support and 10 (0.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,087 pupils
- Ofsted: Inadequate
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Lancashire.
8.2% get SEN support
89 of 1,087 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
0.9% have an EHC plan
10 of 1,087 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication50
- Social, emotional and mental health19
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia13
- Physical disability6
- Hearing impairment5
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 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,087 (places for 1,260)
- Admissions
- Selective (a grammar school)
- Headteacher
- Mr James Johnstone
- Part of
- Star Academies
- Free school meals
- 7.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Lancashire
- School reference (URN)
- 150261
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 Lancashire 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
Special measures. Rated Inadequate, June 2022
Ofsted has placed this school in special measures.
Rated Inadequate at its last graded inspection, in June 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesInadequate
- Personal developmentInadequate
- Leadership and managementInadequate
- Sixth formInadequate
- SafeguardingNot effective
Contact and getting there
Glen Road, Rossendale, BB4 7BJ
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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
- Rawtenstall Cribden House Community Special School Special school · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 2.3 miles
- Belmont School Independent · Ages 5–18 2.3 miles
- Peel Brow School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 4.0 miles
- Norden Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 4.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Waterfoot Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 8.8%, EHC plans 5.4% 0.1 miles
- The Valley Leadership Academy Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 21.8%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.4 miles
- Rawtenstall Newchurch Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 31.3%, EHC plans 7.1% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Lancashire SEND schools in Lancashire
Questions about Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
How many pupils at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 89 of the 1,087 pupils (8.2%) were getting SEN support and 10 (0.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (50 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (19 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (13 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar 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 Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School?
Through Lancashire 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 Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School?
You can ask for Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar 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 Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar 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 Peel Brow School, about 4.0 miles away.
Where is Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School?
Glen Road, Rossendale, BB4 7BJ, in Lancashire.
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.