Bishop Challoner Catholic School is a mainstream secondary school in Tower Hamlets, London, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 176 of its 867 pupils (20.3%) were getting SEN support and 28 (3.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 867 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Tower Hamlets.
20.3% get SEN support
176 of 867 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.2% have an EHC plan
28 of 867 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 difficulty71
- Social, emotional and mental health51
- Speech, language and communication30
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia17
- Autism13
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
- 867 (places for 1,650)
- Headteacher
- Mr Adam Hall (Executive Headteacher)
- Part of
- Lux Mundi Catholic Academy Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 31.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Tower Hamlets
- School reference (URN)
- 150606
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 Tower Hamlets 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, November 2021
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2021.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
352 Commercial Road, London, E1 0LB
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
- Stephen Hawking School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.5 miles
- Peter Hills with St Mary's and St Paul's CofE Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Bangabandhu Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Royal Mencap Society Independent · Ages 16–99 1.0 mile
Other mainstream schools
- St Mary and St Michael Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 17.3%, EHC plans 7.5% 0.1 miles
- Marion Richardson Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.9%, EHC plans 8.6% 0.2 miles
- Blue Gate Fields Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 28.3%, EHC plans 5.7% 0.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Tower Hamlets SEND schools in Tower Hamlets
Questions about Bishop Challoner Catholic School
How many pupils at Bishop Challoner Catholic School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 176 of the 867 pupils (20.3%) were getting SEN support and 28 (3.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Bishop Challoner Catholic School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (71 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (51 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (30 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Bishop Challoner Catholic 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 Bishop Challoner Catholic School?
Through Tower Hamlets 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 Bishop Challoner Catholic School?
You can ask for Bishop Challoner Catholic 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 Bishop Challoner Catholic 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 Peter Hills with St Mary's and St Paul's CofE Primary School, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Bishop Challoner Catholic School?
352 Commercial Road, London, E1 0LB, in Tower Hamlets.
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.