Gateacre School is a mainstream secondary school in Liverpool for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 194 of its 1,196 pupils (16.2%) were getting SEN support and 53 (4.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,196 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Liverpool.
16.2% get SEN support
194 of 1,196 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.4% have an EHC plan
53 of 1,196 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism154
- Social, emotional and mental health51
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia24
- Speech, language and communication5
- Moderate learning difficulty5
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.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,196 (places for 1,400)
- Headteacher
- Mr Nabil Jamil
- Part of
- Northern Schools Trust
- Free school meals
- 41.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Liverpool
- School reference (URN)
- 150956
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 Liverpool 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, December 2023
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in December 2023.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- Sixth formInadequate
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Hedgefield Road, Belle Vale, Liverpool, L25 2RW
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Hope School Special school · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.2 miles
- Childwall Abbey School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Yew Tree Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.2 miles
- Springwood Heath Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 2.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 23.7%, EHC plans 6.3% 0.0 miles
- Belle Vale Community Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 22.8%, EHC plans 2.6% 0.1 miles
- Childwall Valley Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 12.3%, EHC plans 5.9% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Liverpool SEND schools in Liverpool
Questions about Gateacre School
How many pupils at Gateacre School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 194 of the 1,196 pupils (16.2%) were getting SEN support and 53 (4.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Gateacre School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (154 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (51 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (24 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Gateacre 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 Gateacre School?
Through Liverpool 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 Gateacre School?
You can ask for Gateacre 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 Gateacre 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 Yew Tree Primary Academy, about 2.2 miles away.
Where is Gateacre School?
Hedgefield Road, Belle Vale, Liverpool, L25 2RW, in Liverpool.
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.