Walton-Le-Dale High School is a mainstream secondary school in Preston, Lancashire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 191 of its 688 pupils (27.8%) were getting SEN support and 28 (4.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 688 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Lancashire.
27.8% get SEN support
191 of 688 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
4.1% have an EHC plan
28 of 688 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty76
- Social, emotional and mental health55
- Autism26
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia19
- Speech, language and communication17
- Visual impairment6
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 (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 688 (places for 785)
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Lamoury
- Part of
- Aspirational Futures Multi-Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 37.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Lancashire
- School reference (URN)
- 150510
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
Rated Requires improvement, March 2022
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in March 2022.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Brindle Road, Bamber Bridge, Preston, PR5 6RN
Loading the map…
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
- The Coppice School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Bridgeway School Independent · Ages 9–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.1 miles
- Clayton Brook Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.8 miles
- Brockholes Wood Community Primary School and Nursery Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Bamber Bridge St Aidan's Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 31.6%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.3 miles
- Brownedge St Mary's Catholic High School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 11.1%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.3 miles
- St Mary's and St Benedict's Roman Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 12.4%, EHC plans 4% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Lancashire SEND schools in Lancashire
Questions about Walton-Le-Dale High School
How many pupils at Walton-Le-Dale High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 191 of the 688 pupils (27.8%) were getting SEN support and 28 (4.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Walton-Le-Dale High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (76 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (55 pupils) and autism (26 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Walton-Le-Dale High 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 Walton-Le-Dale High 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 Walton-Le-Dale High School?
You can ask for Walton-Le-Dale High 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 Walton-Le-Dale High 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 Clayton Brook Primary School, about 1.8 miles away.
Where is Walton-Le-Dale High School?
Brindle Road, Bamber Bridge, Preston, PR5 6RN, 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.